September 13, 2011 at 11:38pm
Why would Cannon County officials allow yet another large rock quarry not even a mile from the large Vulcan site. Everyone has had enough house shaking in this area. Is Cannon County trying to become the Rock Quarry Mecca of Middle Tennessee? It seems our county leaders could work harder to bring in job producing industries instead of becoming the Readyville natural resource exporting and foundation damaging capital of Tennessee.
This will only accomplish grief for the residences and more damage to the local roads.
Questions need to be asked about where the demand for crushed rock is as well. There has to be a high projected demand somewhere to warrant such a large company's interest in this location. Is this for a road project somewhere? If so, what route will these loaded dump trucks travel? Will it put people in danger on the roads with constant loaded trucks speeding down the highway? Will they have to travel through Woodbury causing more damage to those roads or will it go toward Murfreesboro?
Will this company have a provisions and funds in place to compensate damaged structures and roads or will we, the local tax payers, have to foot that bill as well?
September 14, 2011 at 6:25am
The real question should be why do we not have zoning laws that restrict this type of business from building or working within a specified range of the general population?
We have already seen what an eyesore to our community the first "concrete factory" that turned into a rock quarry has caused. Why would we possibly let another one begin operation anywhere within 50 miles of Cannon County?
I am all for business coming here to Cannon County, but not at the expense of the environment we live in, the destruction of the land, the destruction of the private property or the destruction of the roads we have already established so someone can charge $200 for a load of gravel under the pretense of building a concrete facility like the other quarry did.
This has danger written all over it and the sooner our County Commissioners establish some zoning laws the better in my opinion.
September 14, 2011 at 6:45am
Corey, as its president, will you urge the Cannon County Republican Party to formulate proposals for commonsense zoning laws and building codes to present to the public, planning commission and county commission?
September 14, 2011 at 6:55am
Kevin I am not President of anything, nor am I sure I want to be.
As a citizen of Cannon County I would be more than glad to help in anyway I can to present common sense zoning laws to any Commissioner or group willing to listen.
Things like this are non-political in my view. It is not about being a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent. It is 100% about being a concerned citizen who lives in this community and is concerned about its welfare in my opinion.
Nothing more and never anything less.
September 14, 2011 at 7:04am
Excuse me, Chairman.
In that politicians -- people elected to public office such as commissioners -- or appointed by elected officials -- planning commission members -- the politics of the situation can not be escaped. People will either vote for those who support zoning laws and building codes, or for those who do not.
September 14, 2011 at 9:33am
A permit to discharge "treated" wastewater and stormwater runoff. Does the permit state where they would get water for processes used in washing ,must be a substantial amount if they have to obtain a permit to treat it , several issues that presents, If water were to be obtained on site what would that do to neigboring wells and springs? If they use town of Woodbury water is there capacity and do we want to waste water washing rocks? Who is going to monitor wastewater discharge? Does this type of operation require an enviormental impact study? Lastly that intersection is probably the most dangerous in the county , do we want to make it worse?
September 14, 2011 at 9:55am
compensation for damages? wow really good luck with that..went through that with Vulcan.."the massive cracks in your house are from normal settling"...not from our blasting" sorry... allowing this quarry in would be a big mistake!
people move to cannon county and visit cannon county for the fresh air quite living and small town atmosphere.
The intersection at Parsley's market is a dangerous and busy intersection.adding heavy trucks coming in and out of the quarry would make it even more dangerous.
What is this Quarry going to bring to the people of cannon county? Do the gains offset the sacrifices?
September 14, 2011 at 10:02am
I disagree that everything in life is political. That way of thinking is one of the biggest problems we face today on every level.
Nothing gets solved because we make it political. It typically adds to the confusion and creates more problems than it originally began with.
It has been said that we do not need zoning laws or someone to come to our county and tell us how to run our community or build our buildings. In some ways I agree with that and in others I don't.
Without simple zoning laws we face issues like the one in the article.
Without zoning laws someone could come in and build a chemical plant next to the Stones River as long as they meet all the State and Federal guidelines.
Without zoning laws someone could come in and build an adult bookstore and sell pornography and there would be nothing we could do about it.
Common sense should prevail and leave the politics out of it as much as possible in my opinion.
The idea that nothing should be done leaves us wide open to the idea anyone can do what they want.
September 14, 2011 at 10:47am
Corey, I didn't say everything in life is political, only that most actions involving elected officials involve some degree of politics. How is pushing for zoning laws and building codes any different than calling for an audit committee, an effort which was instigated by the Cannon County GOP?
September 14, 2011 at 11:27am
I would like to know with this being a public meeting where was the notice of this meeting placed so the citizens of the area knew about it?
September 14, 2011 at 11:33am
It was published in our paper in the Public Notices section on Aug. 9 and was listed under the "Notices" section of our Web site (in the links on the far right) until it expired as of midnight law night.
September 14, 2011 at 11:34am
The audit committee was recommended by the State of Tennessee originally and by the Cannon GOP secondly and the citizens of Cannon County lastly during the recent Commissioners meeting when the lack of transparency was being screamed about.
Asking for and expecting transparency from a government body that has the power to tax and collect monies from its citizens is a right established long before the Cannon County GOP was in existence or asked for an audit committee in Cannon County.
Pushing for or asking for zoning laws is not political in my opinion because whether you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat or Independent has no bearing on the idea that at this present time anyone could come to our community and build anything they want without the fear of anyone or any governing body saying NO you can't do that here. You could build an upside down pornography store in Cannon County if you wanted to. There is nothing to stop it because “we don’t want anyone telling us how to build our buildings”.
At the very least if we don’t want anyone else telling us how to build our buildings we should at least govern ourselves in a way that doesn’t allow someone to build anything they want at the expense of the people around them or the land we pass every day.
That is why there is a difference in a requesting what should have been expected years ago in an audit committee and pushing for zoning laws which needs to be done to prevent disaster areas like the current rock quarry that we have today.
September 14, 2011 at 12:40pm
Corey, much like MMW, you are becoming quite adept at speaking out of both sides of your mouth. For you to even claim that your stance is non-political is, in itself, political.
September 14, 2011 at 2:17pm
Must be a slow day in the newsroom for Halpren to introduce my name into this dicussion. I am still laughing at the stupidity that came from those who claim I was anti-American, anti-Constitution, pro Sharia Law, as starters, because I thought the RED STATES attempts to drive down the votes from poor and disadvantaged people was a little too obvious.
Any actions taken by an elected official has at its heart a political motive. That is the nature of the game.
Remembering the days of the damage done by the quarry on Manchester Highway, apparently soon forgotten if no zoning laws were enacted after it closed, I should hope that zoning laws will passed to keep such operations out of the county.
I have yet to hear of a quarry where home and ground waters were not seriously affected.
Since I do not have a photo ID and lack the means to obtain such from neigboring counties and may not be able to obtain an absentee ballot, I look for that great leader of justice in the county , a member of the Republican Party, carry the banner in this cause.
Halpren, e-mail with my double speak comments. I would like to come by an discuss with you in person. I think you are seriously in error when making this claim!
September 14, 2011 at 3:38pm
A rock quarry is a heavy industrial site having many environmental impacts. There is noise pollution, dust/air pollution, disruption of groundwater, discharge of treated wastewater, vibration/blasting damage, heavy truck traffic increasing hazards along the highway, visual pollution, and roadway damage itself just to mention a few of the obvious impacts. When looking at these factors and the fact that there are two existing quarries 1.5 and 3 miles away I don't think a quarry should be allowed at that site. And a quarry is 'forever'-continuing to be an environmental hazard long after the last load of limestone is removed. Looks like something is already killing the trees at the site judging from the noticeable browning of the oaks even allowing for the hot dry weather we have been having. TnTnTn
September 14, 2011 at 3:51pm
Actually it is a rather busy day MMW, and come on by anytime.
September 14, 2011 at 5:19pm
I visited Vulcan not long ago to get a couple of tons of gravel. They are down to one man running the whole operation. They have cameras set up everywhere. Keeping an eye on the one guy from a remote location in Franklin. If demand is down that much, why is there another quarry wanting to open up right beside a struggling one? Maybe it's a front for some shady activities.
September 14, 2011 at 6:12pm
Kevin you claiming someone is talking out of both sides of their mouth is like the pot calling the kettle black!
The issue of building a rock quarry and the impact of it is not a political issue. The issue of the need for zoning laws is not political.
Getting zoning laws passed would be political but not from a Republican or Democrat standpoint, but one driven by what some of the elected officials in our county are scared to death of which is change and progress.
September 14, 2011 at 6:24pm
So the Cannon County Republican Party is perfectly happy to tell people what issues and candidates to support or oppose when it comes to state or national politics, but cowards when it comes to important local matters? If that's the case it might as well disband, because there are state and national organizations which can propagate those interests a lot more effectively.
September 14, 2011 at 7:07pm
Kevin when I speak on behalf of the Cannon GOP you know it, I know it and so does everyone else. I am very clear on that when there is a need to be. If you look above all my comments say "in my opinion".
You and only you are turning this into a political argument. No one anywhere is concerned about a R or a D beside an opinion except you.
I speak as a concerned citizen of this county who has no political agenda in my belief that we should not allow another rock quarry into our community. I also have no political agenda in my belief that we should have zoning laws to protect our citizens, our property, our environment and our overall appearance!
Your opinion of me means nothing to me. If you believe it is good journalism to call me or anyone who disagrees with your opinion a coward and if that makes you feel bigger in some way then good for you.
However I would ask you: Do all of the opinions you express on this site represent the views of the Cannon Courier, its employees and its owner?
September 14, 2011 at 7:20pm
Corey, the answer to your question at the end is no.
However, the fact still remains that if the Cannon County Republican Party is unwilling to take a stand and champion the cause of local interests, it is a meaningless organization. They same is true for the Democratic Party of Cannon County. All politics is local, except, apparently, when it comes to local matters.
September 14, 2011 at 8:06pm
The Cannon GOP has done more to champion local interests in the last six months than has ever been done in the 175 year history of Cannon County!
Do you recall the business forum in April where I personally wrote 39 elected officials inviting them attend? Do you forget how we asked for State Senators and State Representatives to come to that meeting to bring ideas on how we could bring industry to Cannon County? Do you remember how many local officials showed up?
Do you recall the Cannon GOP asking to be put on the Commisioners agenda to request a non political audit committee be established? Do you recall that it passed and was approved due to our efforts? Do you know we are still waiting for the Commissioners to appoint the committee 10 months later?
Did you drop by the Cannon GOP booth at the Good Ole Days we had set up and look at any of the information we had available? Did you see the petitions, the flyers or the voter registration cards anyone could fill out no matter whayt their political affliation was?
Have you ever attended any of the monthly meetings the Cannon GOP holds each month where we discuss ideas about cleaning up the local parks or garbage dumps? Or discuss ideas like ensuring we set up meetings for the public to attend with our state representatives?
There are many more things we "champion" but we are a small group that is just getting started. When we grow we will take on bigger roles and that I am 100% sure of!
You should get your facts straight before you make statements that are without merit. That is strike two. Name calling and now false statements. You having a bad day?
September 14, 2011 at 8:18pm
My statements with respect to the Cannon County Republican Party are completely with merit, but you, as Chairman, have obfuscated.
I simply asked, "will you urge the Cannon County Republican Party to formulate proposals for commonsense zoning laws and building codes to present to the public, planning commission and county commission?"
So I will ask again, will the Cannon County Republican Party? It's really not that complicated a question unless the chairman or the party he represents doesn't want to take a stance.
September 14, 2011 at 8:50pm
Strike three because now you are ignoring the obvious. Scoll up and read what I said that as a citizen I would more than gladly help develop and propose common sense zoning laws. I am on record taking a stance.
You statements about the Cannon GOP are without merit because you state we are unwilling to take a stance locally and I have proved that false.
I would encourage everyone as citizens of our community to formulate common sense zoning laws for Cannon County and propose them. It is a non political argument and I wii not treat it as such.
I have a stump for you also if you need one.
September 15, 2011 at 1:46am
Thank you. I now know that the chairman of the Cannon County GOP will not urge his organization to take a stance on the important issues of zoning laws and building codes.
September 15, 2011 at 6:56am
As a citizen I will encourage everyone to work with their Commissioners to propose zoning laws and any other laws or ideas that would help Cannon County grow and develop and help protect our community.
This is a common sense approach to a non-political issue and I am sorry Kevin if that is hard for you to follow.
Everything in life is not political. The idea of needing zoning laws is not political. The idea of NOT needing another rock quarry in Cannon County is not political. Those are simple, common sense thoughts that can be resolved without any political jargon what so ever!
It is simply un-needed and would do nothing but cause people to want to choose sides because the proposal was affiliated with one party or another. That is the way our society is today and you know it, I know it and so does everyone else. Adding politics to a simple idea is like asking Congress to pass a simple law.
In my opinion there is no need for the Cannon GOP or the Democratic Party of Cannon County to encourage its members to rally around the idea we need zoning laws. That idea in itself goes without speaking that it needs to be done and can be accomplished without making it political.
Will you as the lead reporter for the Cannon Courier website urge your fellow employees and your management to propose common sense zoning laws for Cannon County?
With your ability to reach out to the community utilizing the Cannon Courier paper and the Cannon Courier website you have more of an ability to sway the ideas and form opinions in this community than either the Republican or Democratic parties located here.
If this matter is so urgent to you, then take the stand today and propose your own zoning laws and get the people around you that you can influence to back what you are saying and print it for everyone to see. As a citizen who lives here, pays taxes here and works here I would think you would want to be involved as well.
September 15, 2011 at 7:02am
Corey, no additional explanation or pontification was needed. You made it clear that there are some issues, such as jobs and county finances, which do warrant the involvement of the Cannon County GOP because they are important to everyone, whereas there are other issues, such as zoning laws and building codes, which do not warrant the involvement of the Cannon County GOP because, well, they are important to everyone.
September 15, 2011 at 7:44am
Want to know how political these type of local issues are, start to fight against it and see how hard a "non-political" wall you hit. Want to know how political these type of local issues are, find out who the few are who will reap benifits as the majority of us suffers.
I believe many have miss the point: they are not asking our permission because they dont have to. We will have zoning laws and rules to protect our county when it benifits the powers to be or when we elect and appoint more people to positions of power that are intellegent and caring.
one of our greatest assets at this time is our beautiful county. people move here, build big nice homes and pay big property taxes. how many will come when our county is run over with quarries?
September 15, 2011 at 8:50am
OK to get things back on track here. Those homeowners or land owners around the area should be making phone calls, writing letters or anything else that is needed to prevent the establishment of the quarry if they choose to.
This quarry will in effect bring down all property value, cause pollution problems, and possibly damage some homes. I own a house that is directly across the street from this proposed quarry, and the renter I have in it may move out because of this and it could possibly prevent me from being able to rent it in the future or even sell the home.
Our county needs to really step up and think about the citizens. In this economic time it is more important to help protect than to cause damage to an already damaged infrastructure.
To address this back and forth from Kevin and Corey. It will take more than just the citizens of the county to step up and demand new zoning laws for our county. It will take both parties joining together and saying it is time for zoning laws. Ultimately it will come down to our elected officials to set the laws but not without some party pressure to do so. So, I would have to say you both are correct even though it may seem I am talking out of both sides of my mouth. Which by the way I use my whole mouth when I talk...hahaha
September 15, 2011 at 9:16am
efisk, I would hate to think a cause is hopeless, but I feel in this case it is. There appears to be no reason the state can justify not issuing permits. Attempts at retroactive zoning would likely result in a lawsuit which the county would likely lose.
September 15, 2011 at 9:51am
I know what your saying, but there have been cases where enough people complained on state level to overturn the decision that was made.
Will this happen this time. Probably not because there was not enough public outcry at the meeting Tuesday.
My point is if things are to get changed citizens as well as parties must stand up to do it.
September 15, 2011 at 10:08am
Kevin I see you didn't commit to the power within your grasp to influence elected officials or sway the public opinion by using the Cannon Courier as a tool for proposing zoning laws. I guess there was no need for you to provide any additional explanation or pontification either.
A futile attempt to try and create zoning laws because we suddenly don't like what someone is planning on building will never fly in any court system. It would be a guaranteed loser and a waste of taxpayer money.
No matter how it is sliced, no matter how much anyone wants to make it political and no matter how much we all agree that the need for zoning laws exist, it all comes down to the ten people who hold the power to change it.
I could create the best zoning laws known to man, but if the County Commissioners don't pass it then it is a waste of time. The power to change our community lies squarely upon their shoulders until a change is made by the citizens of this county.
This is just another one of the reasons I say we have enough problems within our county to justify holding County Commissioners meetings on a monthly basis.
Imagine the idea of trying to create zoning laws meeting every three months like we do now. It took 15 budget meetings to finally whittle down the idea of a tax increase. What do you think it would be like when zoning laws were proposed?
September 15, 2011 at 10:31am
Yes Corey, there was. It was to point out that the Cannon County GOP picks and chooses, with no apparent rhyme nor reason, which local issues of importance to involve itself in, and which not to.
September 15, 2011 at 8:42pm
We already have two quarrys on the same road, both are one man operations and by the way the economy is I dont see this one doing any better, I dont understand the owners of this new quarry not being able to see what is happening to the other ones. The back and forth between the reps. and dems. on this site won't get it stopped and neither will the citizens just look at the one across from the arts center, waiting till it is almost in operation is the wrong time to fight it.
September 16, 2011 at 5:50am
The Republicans, every since gaining control of the House have been hell-bent on destroying the EPA and the protection this agency has brought to all.
Seems as though some local Republicans are not on board with the party line and want to stand in the way of a business.
Ain't it fuuny what some people say and do.
September 16, 2011 at 6:05am
The EPA has been out-of-control and overboard in its overbearing regulations under Obama in order to fund his green energy scams. Conservatives are not opposed to reasonable, fact-based regulations to combat and control pollution and preserve resources. They are opposed to phoney "climate change" rules.
September 16, 2011 at 7:26am
Of course you are correct Halpren about conservatives. Wasn't it one of those conservatives from Texas or Oklahoma who claimed the BP leak in the Gulf was an Act of God.
Conservative Republicans, nevertheless, are hell-bent on removing even justifiable ground rules that are needed to protect this planet from pollution by businesses.
Strange actions from the religious right who do not feel that God's instructions to man in the beginning was to govern the earth responsibly.
September 16, 2011 at 7:42am
Guess you just make it up as you go along NNW, as you are unable to source anything you reference. I have no doubt you think everything the loco left proposes is "justifiable."
September 16, 2011 at 8:57am
at least it will put people to work !!!!
September 16, 2011 at 9:34am
Thr "loco left" has a much better record of protecting this planet from pollution than the conservative Republicans you tout.
Here is something from Milbank(last year):
By Dana Milbank
Sunday, June 6, 2010
"God spoke to Moses through a burning bush on Mount Horeb. He apparently speaks to Republicans through a spewing oil well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) delivered the startling revelation last week that the BP oil spill was caused not by a faulty blowout preventer but by the Almighty Himself. He explained the spill to an Oklahoma City radio station like this: "Acts of God are acts of God." With this curious theology, Cole has joined the ministry of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a fellow Republican, who last month said of the oil spill: "From time to time there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God that cannot be prevented.
An article by The Post's Dan Eggen explains Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), furthering the act-of-God view, asserted that "this is not an environmental disaster" in the gulf "because it is a natural phenomena." Rand Paul, the GOP Senate candidate in Kentucky, said the administration's vow to keep a boot on the throat of BP is "un-American." Former GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani said the criminal investigation of BP is a "mistake."
Making up as I go along.
September 16, 2011 at 9:50am
When I got to "Milbank" I stopped because he is as loco as the left-wing media gets. I wouldn't trust his reporting on a frog race.
September 22, 2011 at 8:12am
What are the so called email addresses and phone numbers we are supposed to call to complain about the quarry?
September 22, 2011 at 8:30am
Phone numbers are in this story. E-mail addresses can be found at www.tn.gov
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