Orange County NC Website
6 <br />policy for the people and their property. He believes that people should be <br />able to do with their property what they want but if they do damage, they <br />should pay for it. <br />Melvin Parrish, resident on property next to the quarry, stated that <br />these are people's lives they are talking about. He is concerned about the <br />damage that is caused by the blasting. He asked how the Department of <br />Transportation decided to let them move the road and build a new road. The <br />new road will be in a more dangerous spot than the present one. <br />Alfred Perry stated that moving the road will push him further back into <br />the woods. He feels his property has been devalued because of the presence <br />of American Stone. The road will put his life at danger. He has trailers on <br />his property that are falling apart fast. The blast shakes the trailers and <br />are loud enough to scare a person. He asked that the County Commissioners go <br />out into that area when one of the blasts goes off. With regards to changing <br />the road and drilling, blasting and digging for another 25 years or more, he <br />feels that they have had enough. He knows it is a public project and he <br />believes in public obedience but at the same time he is being torn apart by <br />all the blasting and the future plans for the reservoir. They have put a <br />buffer up where he cannot even see out except one way and when they move the <br />road he won't be able to see at all. He has had no problems with American <br />Stone but feels these changes are not needed and asked that the Board please <br />listen to the people in the area because they are the ones being affected. <br />He showed on a map the location of his property and the seven trailers. <br />Alice G. Durham showed where she lives. She feels that the people of <br />Orange County should be willing to make sacrifices for the men and women of <br />tomorrow. She has lived next to American Stone for 24 years. She hears more <br />noise on Highway 54 and over her head than she has ever heard from American <br />Stone Company. She is not saying there is not blasting. She noted that a <br />wise man will build his house on a firm foundation and an unwise man will <br />build his house on sand and she asked which one is you. <br />Janice Vallero asked if Ms. Durham is party to this proposal, the <br />question was not answered. In filing a complaint against the quarry she found <br />that there is no local enforcement for this quarry. She asked that when <br />looking at making an amendment to this land use plan, that they please hear <br />the comments made tonight. To make complaints, a person must go through the <br />state department. She asked that the County Commissioners deny the request <br />for an amendment. <br />Paxton Badham, representative of American Stone, asked to respond to <br />several of the citizen comments. With regard to Mr. Danziger's comment about <br />quarrying out the existing pit and then taking that over, if this deal does <br />not go through, the towns and OWASA will not have any right or interest in <br />that pit. This proposal gives it to OWASA free of charge. With regards to <br />the environmental impact statement, the plant and wildlife portion was taken <br />from records but the remainder of it was done on site. It was circulated to <br />a number of state agencies. He made reference to the blasts and stated that <br />there is a difference between a blast that is perceptible and a blast level <br />that is damaging. The U.S. Bureau of Mines has done extensive study on <br />