It's time parties sit down together

To the editor:

There have been multiple letters to the editor as well as public discussions concerning the proposed rezoning of land for use as a quarry by US Aggregates.

The negative vote at the plan commission rezoning hearing on April 1 now moves the request to Portland City Council within 90 days.

There is little doubt that this pending decision could bring a big change with long-term consequences both pro and con. US Aggregates has estimated 30 years of operation is at this proposed site.

Maybe it is time that the interested parties —City Of Portland, Jay County Commissioners, Jay School Corporation and Tyson — get together and draw up an operational agreement outlining all US Aggregates responsibilities similar to agreements reached for the wind farms and the current proposed solar farm.

This legally binding agreement should include — operational days and hours, traffic routes and road maintenance, site blasting notification, dust mitigation and overall site berm and vegetation requirements. Last but not least, US Aggregates should present a binding, non-contestable, irrevocable multi-million dollar performance bond that allows any party to file a just claim for compensation for any unforeseen impact from the operation.

Jeff Hiser

Portland