A Montezuma County Planning and Zoning member has been dismissed from the board after she had a heated exchange with a Kinder Morgan official on Sept. 25.
Gala Pock said Planning and Zoning 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 C02," Pock said. "I feel (county) commissioners are piece-mealing all these permits. Each little well gets a separate permit."
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 said.
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 whether Pock will be replaced, was not immediately returned. The seven board members are appointed by the county commissioners and serve three-year terms. They review development proposals, conduct research, take public comment, and make reccomendations on projects and issues to the county commission.
Pock said she will continue to attend P&Z meetings, but as an audience member.