Gala Pock said P&Z officials were discussing new pipeline permits from Kinder Morgan, something she is passionate about.
“I live here in the Cow Canyon area where Kinder Morgan is doing a lot of drilling for Co2,” Pock said. “I feel [county] commissioners are piece-mealing all these permits. Each little well gets a separate permit.”
So naturally, when Pock, 68, saw two proposed pipelines, totaling over seven miles, she had questions.
She lives near two wells, a compressor station and a cluster well, she said.
“I’ve been talking to my neighbors, they didn’t like the idea of the pipeline,” she said. “I had lots of questions and I voted no on the permits.”
Moments later, the board took a break.
That’s when Kinder Morgan regulatory manager Phil Kennedy approached Pock with his hand out and a determined look on his face, Pock said.
“I felt trapped. I didn’t have time to think about it, so I said ‘Go to hell,’” Pock said.
Kennedy reportedly turned and said he would pray for my soul, Pock added.
That meeting was a Thursday night. The following Monday, Pock received a letter saying she was being removed from the P&Z board. She served on the board nearly three years.
Other P&Z board members include Dennis Atwater, Tim Hunter, Kelly Belt, Mike Rosso, Michael Gaddy and Bob Clayton, who recently retired from Kinder Morgan.
A call to the Montezuma County Planning Department, asking if Pock will be replaced, was not immediately returned.
Pock said she will continue to attend P&Z meetings, but as an audience member.