COUNTY COMMISSION
The brouhaha over opening a quarry on the south slope of Humboldt Hill evaporated for the time being with David Gants withdrawal of an application for a conditional use permit.
Allen County Counselor Alan Weber reported the change in developments to commissioners Tuesday morning, to the relief of a small delegation on hand to argue against approval.
As reported in the Register Saturday, planning board members voted against permitting the quarry, which would be opened under a lease to Mid America Materials. Gant owns the land projected for the quarry.
Weber said Gant pulled his request to give him time to visit with adjacent and nearby landowners, most of whom object to the quarry. They are opposed because of blasting necessary to dislodge the limestone. Trucks entering old U.S. 169 from the hill also is foreseen as traffic hazard, according to opponents.
Gant has promised to alleviate such concerns as much as possible.
On hand Tuesday to voice their concerns were Dale Wiles, whose family once owned the land and who lives directly south of the hill, and David Scantlin, who lives to the east.
Weber mentioned October as a likely date for the next hearing. At the recent one, four of seven who sit on the planning commission were on hand. All voted against Gants request.
The land is zoned for agricultural purposes, which prohibits an active quarry. Gant said he would recondition the land, including a lake, if allowed to open a quarry.
IN REGARDS to the old highway being used as a detour between Iola and Chanute, Sheriff Bryan Murphy assured that anyone, regardless of origin or destination, could legally use the old highway.
His comment arose from a letter published in the Register, and brought to attention of commissioners, in which Kris Van Meteren, Linwood, said he was by a deputy and told through traffic was prohibited from using the old highway.
Murphy said the deputy erred in that judgment but otherwise was courteous and polite, an analysis he arrived at by watching a body cam recording of the traffic stop. Anyone may use the road, Murphy said. He also noted Van Meteren was stopped for speeding, and was given a warning.
We have had a lot of stops, but not many citations, he added.
LARRY WALDEN proposed commissioners take it upon themselves to increase the size of the governing body to five, by simple resolution. The alternative is a petition drive by Walden or a group of citizens.
Chairman Tom Williams said he preferred for citizens to initiate a referendum by petition.
I agree 100 percent with Tom, Commissioner Jerry Daniels injected, as did Commissioner John Brocker.
Walden, with a resolution in hand, argued for the expediency of that route, to no avail.
