The Chester County Council Meeting on 2/6/2023 was a packed house due to the 2nd readings of the Luck Company negotiations and rezoning. The council voted unanimously to approve all 2nd readings pertaining to Luck Stone.
There were 6 residents who spoke against Luck Stone and 3 people who spoke in favor of the company which included 2 people from the company itself. (Only 1 resident spoke in favor of the quarry.)
Notable highlights of this meeting were the questions from council members, who asked pertinent health related questions, yet many in attendance thought these questions should have been asked before 1st Reading.
One of those questions asked was what the noise levels were with the portable plant, and the Luck representative said "We haven't done a sound study on that."
Another question from Councilman Guy was about silica dust and the consequences of it on the air quality. The Luck Director of Risk and Environmental responded, “The air actually cleans up as it passes over the quarry.”
Councilwoman Mosley inquired about preservation of a cemetery and said, “...I just wanna kinda get a little bit more clarification on preserving that cuz there's a family cemetery there, so I kinda want a little more detail there." She went on to state, "I'm a preserver of all things old."
This left many in attendance wondering if the county council cares more about the "well-being" of those deceased rather than those of the children going to the school near the facility, or those living near the facility.
Councilman Guy asked how many "Tonka" trucks would be operating on the site, and if Luck would be giving water bottles to those who may have well issues due to the quarry.
Residents in attendance that spoke publicly were Joan Heid, Joanna Timms, Trent Bagley, Kenneth Myron, George Sweat, Dorothy Willard, and Kathy Huntsinger.
Trent Bagley, the only Chester resident speaking in favor of Luck Stone, said, "I think they're gonna' be a good neighbor." No word yet on if Mr. Rogers asked Luck to be his neighbor.
"Who will buy our homes next to a mine with depreciated value. Where will we go?"-Joan Heid asked the council.
Joanna Timms said, "Once soil is contaminated, it is contaminated forever....Instead of just touring a pretty facility, I challenge you to look at a mine after they're finished mining."
"I am forcefully opposed to having this open pit mine so close to what I consider paradise." - Kenneth Myron
George Sweat asked, "Why do we need a mine a mile or so from the elementary school...one of the biggest in the state?"
Dorothy Willard stated, "My house is 1893 feet from the back of Luck Stone's property where they are going to be putting the grinding machines, where they will be loading the dump trucks, and this is going to go on all day long."
Kathy Huntsinger, a registered nurse, exclaimed that silica dust is worse than coal dust... even low exposure can lead to silicosis. She went on to plead with the county to ask them "not to expose us and our families to this silica dust."
One resident expressed their dissatisfaction with the council's "poor business sense", and went on to say "they don't have the mental capacity to process matters like these."
Another resident said, "How does this improve Chester County? All I'm seeing is the council's pockets lined with money, because there are NO real pro's for our county. They'll even be getting tax breaks on their portable operations all the while they're blowing our county all to hell with C-4. " Another resident chimed in with their opinion and stated, "Council means well, I know of lot of em. They're just ignorant."
Sound off Lanterneers: Is our County Council mentally equipped to approve controversial industry?
Yes, Dear leaders are the smartest.
Nope!
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