Mining issues raised

Penn Township residents brought concerns about a sand and gravel pit to the Jay County Commissioners this morning.
“It’s decreasing the value of the property in our area,” Jerry Hanlin told commissioners, complaining about St. Henry Tile Company’s operation northeast of Pennville.
The company re-opened a sand and gravel pit north of county road 450 North along county road 750 West on a portion of what had once been the Gordon and Sparkle Crowe farm.
Now, said Hanlin, the company has leased 320 acres north of county road 500 North for an expanded operation. That land is owned by Todd and Kurt Fiechter of Wells County.
The Fiechters were granted a special exception for mineral excavation on the land by the Jay County Board of Zoning Appeals in December.
“They’re talking now about taking Twin Hills out,” he said, though he noted that one of the dune-like sand hills at that site has already disappeared.
Edward Paxson, whose ancestors used to farm that land, said the Twin Hills property includes a family cemetery. He also said Indian burial sites of interest to archaeologists at Ball State University are involved.
In addition to concerns about the cemetery and burial sites, Paxson and Hanlin also complained about the inadequacy of setbacks, problems with truck traffic, inadequate notification to nearby landowners, dust, and whether the land will be properly reclaimed after the sand and gravel have been removed.
“It’s going to take an awful lot of dirt to fill that in,” acknowledged commissioner Milo Miller Jr.
Zoning and planning administrator Bill Milligan noted that setback requirements have changed since the first St. Henry Tile site was established. At that time, a 50-foot setback was required. Since then, the requirement has been changed to 250 feet. Milligan said St. Henry Tile worked with the county to mound dirt along 750 West to minimize the impact at its original site.
Milligan said this morning the original St. Henry Tile property is zoned industrial, but in fact the large majority of the property has commercial zoning. A small parcel on the east side of county road 750 West about halfway between county roads 400 North and 500 North is zoned industrial.
Commissioners’ attorney Bill Hinkle said authority over issues such as archaeological sites and cemeteries rests with the state rather than with the county.
Paxson said he had been in touch with Ball State archaeologists, while Hanlin said he had contacted the Department of Natural Resources.
“This thing is out of hand. No question about it,” said Hanlin. “They’re ruining the area.”
“My intention,” said Paxson, “is to let everybody know that cemetery is there” and that he doesn’t want to see it disturbed.[[In-content Ad]]