Rutland Herald

Officials air concerns about OMYA plan

March 22, 2000
By SANDI SWITZER Herald Correspondent

WALLINGFORD - Danby and Tinmouth residents sat with their Wallingford neighbors at a Select Board meeting this week while an OMYA official outlined plans for a proposed quarry operation that could affect the entire region.

OMYA wants to begin mining operations at the Jobe Phillips Quarry near the Danby Four Corners area. Proposed activities include drilling, blasting, crushing and screening marble ore to be hauled north to a processing plant in Florence.

The meeting Monday was prompted by a letter to OMYA from the Wallingford Select Board, outlining many concerns about the truck traffic associated with the project.

The proposed haul route would have trucks leaving the Danby site and traveling east on Hoisington Cross Road, north on East Road in Tinmouth to Route 140 into Wallingford. From there, trucks would travel north on Route 7 to Florence.

Company officials have estimated a maximum of 40 round-trips a day, six days a week.

OMYA geologist Don Burns said the Danby site would provide a "significant source" of material to be processed into fillers and extenders for the paper, plastic and paint industries.

Newly elected Selectman Ed Crelin questioned whether the company had fully explored all truck access routes.

"The curves and grades on Route 140 are not up to snuff," he said.

Crelin further noted that trucks would travel in close proximity to town recreational facilities, the fire station, rescue squad, transfer station and past houses less than 10 feet from the edge of the road.

He suggested that Scottsville Road in Danby would provide a more direct access to Route 7.

"The town does not have the right of way capable of upgrading that road. It would take years to acquire that property," Burns responded. "We tend to look for the path of least resistance. East Road onto (Route) 140 is the best existing infrastructure."

Select Board Chairman Chris Dinnan questioned noise, safety and quality-of-life issues associated with the 80 trucks maneuvering through Wallingford village on a daily basis.

"I just imagine truck after truck after truck," he said. "There's no real advantage for us."

Selectwoman Diane Colvin, the only board member to speak out in favor of the project, praised OMYA as a "conscientious" company that provided Vermonters with high-paying jobs.

"I'm all for industry and industry contributes a lot," she said. "We need more than minimum-wage jobs. If there's some give and take to this, I don't have a problem with it."

Colvin suggested that OMYA consider helping the town with sidewalk projects to promote safety for children using recreational facilities.

"If they can help Wallingford do some of the things to protect our kids and keep them safe, I'm all for letting the trucks run," she said.

Burns agreed to meet with road crew foreman David Morris and newly appointed Road Commissioner Jay Johnstone to identify areas of concern.

However, William Lohsen of Wallingford reminded officials they have been pushing recreational activities on that side of town.

"As a recreation committee member, I have some real concerns with what they're proposing," he said.

Marshall Squier, chairman of the Tinmouth Planning Commission, urged officials to fully explore the project's potential impacts on land values, especially for properties along the haul route.

He also suggested "80 trucks a day is not the bottom line."

Wallingford Selectman Hans Huessy made a motion to form a committee "to work up a possible position to be taken by the town with respect to the OMYA project." He added the committee would include Johnstone, Crelin, Lohsen and others.

The board unanimously approved the motion.

In a similar move, the Danby Select Board recently agreed to form a committee to generate a list of experts available to assess the project's impact on that town.