A Limestone quarry wants to triple in size, while residents say it could be devastating for the neighborhood.
The Stephens Red Dirt pit, owned by the Rogers Group, wants to expand from 45 acres to 145 acres. It is located on Hamstring Road near the Big Red Dirt Farm. People are worried it will decrease their property values as well as cause noise and water pollution. "We got a lot of people, that wells are their only means of water, and we've heard stories of people living near other quarries, that their wells have collapsed or been contaminated," said resident Debbie Johnson.
Johnson was one of 20 people to attend a meeting with the Rogers Group on Monday night. "We feel by sitting down with the residents and having a discussion we have a good chance to air out some misunderstandings," said Terry Sossong, of the Rogers Group.
The Rogers Group said noise nor water should be negatively affected by the expansion, and that their blasting levels are consistently below the level allowed by law. However, Johnson says no way. "My neighbor had a post knocked off her back deck."
Johnson also wonders why the expansion is even necessary. "I mean how much bigger do they need to expand, there are six quarries in the county already." However, Sossong says there is a major demand for limestone and they need to expand to meet that demand.
The proposal to expand will go before the County Planning Commission on Thursday. Many residents say they will be there to speak out against it.
The Stephens Red Dirt pit, owned by the Rogers Group, wants to expand from 45 acres to 145 acres. It is located on Hamstring Road near the Big Red Dirt Farm. People are worried it will decrease their property values as well as cause noise and water pollution. "We got a lot of people, that wells are their only means of water, and we've heard stories of people living near other quarries, that their wells have collapsed or been contaminated," said resident Debbie Johnson.
Johnson was one of 20 people to attend a meeting with the Rogers Group on Monday night. "We feel by sitting down with the residents and having a discussion we have a good chance to air out some misunderstandings," said Terry Sossong, of the Rogers Group.
The Rogers Group said noise nor water should be negatively affected by the expansion, and that their blasting levels are consistently below the level allowed by law. However, Johnson says no way. "My neighbor had a post knocked off her back deck."
Johnson also wonders why the expansion is even necessary. "I mean how much bigger do they need to expand, there are six quarries in the county already." However, Sossong says there is a major demand for limestone and they need to expand to meet that demand.
The proposal to expand will go before the County Planning Commission on Thursday. Many residents say they will be there to speak out against it.
