Council backs quarry project

U.S. Aggregates’ has made some changes and is planning to reapply for rezoning again for the expansion of its quarry operation.

Jay County Council voted to support the expansion Wednesday.

U.S. Aggregates Area operations manager Eric Reynolds visited council to inform it about changes to their application.

Several parcels have been removed from the company’s rezoning request, including land between county road 200 West and Indiana 67, directly south of Beacon Heights. The request now covers only land east of county road 200 West and south of Tyson Road, a total of about 108 acres.

The new application has not yet been submitted to Jay/Portland Building and Planning Department. Once it is, the next step will be returning to Portland Plan Commission to seek its recommendation for approval.

Earlier this year, U.S. Aggregates requested that a total of 115 acres to allow for the expansion of its stone quarry operation. The proposed expansion site is north of its current location at 2228 W. 125 South.

Several community members spoke out against the rezoning operation at city meetings and wrote letters to the editor published in The Commercial Review.

After an unfavorable 6-2 vote from Portland Plan Commission in April, the company pulled its rezoning request with plans to modify its application.

Reynolds began by reading a letter to the editor published in The Commercial Review April 27. U.S. Aggregates has been in business in Jay County for more than 50 years and directly employs 22 people and indirectly supports another 107 jobs, Reynolds wrote in the letter.

He noted Wednesday the quarry will run out of reserves in three to five years and it hopes to continue work in the area by expanding its operation. The expansion would add another 30 years of material.

Reynolds said U.S. Aggregates has taken community concerns into account in its new application.

“I want everyone to know we did take what the community is sharing with us very seriously,” Reynolds said. In relation to blasting and water concerns, he added, there are state and federal provisions that constrict companies to certain limits

“We have it set up where, if somebody has a concern, call us,” he said. “We’ll call you before we blast, we’ll set up a seismograph up in your yard to help you understand what’s going on in that area.”

“It doesn’t mean they’re not going to feel it; it doesn’t mean they’re not going to, maybe, hear it. But, we’re not causing any damage to them,” he added.

There will be at least $6 million in investments made as a result of the expansion, he estimated. 

Several council members voiced support of the request. 

“I think the pros for this outweigh the cons,” said council president Jeanne Houchins. “If we don’t support an existing business, what’s that say for Jay County?”

Council member Ted Champ also noted that U.S. Aggregates has been in the county for several years. He added that the expansion will bring a lot of money into the county as well.

“Jay County is a great place to live, and we all know this, but we don’t have Ford and Chevy coming to Jay County,” he said. “So when we have opportunities on this, in my opinion, we have to capitalize on them because we don’t get these kind of opportunities every day.”

Council voted unanimously to support the company’s effort to expand.

Also Monday, council made an additional appropriation of $83,223 for a Jay Emergency Medical Service settlement (see related story).

Council and commissioners Brian McGalliard and Chad Aker, who were in attendance, agreed to host a joint session at 6 p.m. June 2 to determine usage of incoming American Rescue Plan monies. Auditor Anna Culy said it can be used for a number of reasons related to COVID-19 support. 

Houchins also noted there will be a public hearing for the Skycrest Solar Energy Farms at 6 p.m. June 9 in the courthouse auditorium.

In other business, council: 

•OK’d Jay County Drug Coalition to distribute about $20,000 in drug and alcohol countermeasure fees from Jay County courts. 

•Agreed to hire Rachel Walker as a full-time public defender with a $9,000 pay increase. Previously the office did not have a full-time position offering a 100% case load and preventing attorneys from taking cases in other counties. About 40% of the public defender’s budget is reimbursed from the state, meaning the new position will cost the county less than $6,000 additionally per year, chief public defender Brandon Murphy explained.

•Made the following additional appropriations: $50,000 for the Jay County Fairgrounds Christmas light display, $1,850 for witness fees to Jay County Prosecutor’s Office and $15,000 for Jay County Circuit Court jury fees.

•Transferred $700 for gas, lube and oil for Jay County Coroner’s Office and $41 for witness fees for the prosecutor’s office.