Resident opposes quarry expansion

To the editor:

As many people have recently learned, US Aggregates is planning to expand its stone quarry around Indiana 67 and Tyson Road, right at the edge of our city.

Without most people knowing, they bought up land for this project and are now trying to get the zoning changed to allow them to move forward. Jay County High School, Tyson and Jay Petroleum, along with other businesses, will feel the effects of this quarry.

Hundreds of homeowners will also be affected. Blasting, dust, the possibility of wells going dry and truck traffic will be a major problem, not to mention the effects on residential home values.

My husband and I only became aware of this a few weeks ago. US Aggregates has presented at some meetings, trying to convince the school, businesses and homeowners that this expansion won’t really be a problem for us. After attending a few of their meetings, I’m not convinced.

If Portland wants to bring in more people, having a stone quarry at the city limits is not the way to do it.

If US Aggregates wants to expand, it should be looking at other areas in the county where the blasting and dust won’t be a problem.

At every meeting, the US Aggregates team keeps saying, “We want to be a good neighbor, and we want to be transparent.

From my perspective, they are doing neither.

Carol Johnston

Portland