The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners again postponed a vote on the rezone request for the proposed dimension stone quarry on Lexington-Carlton Road.
“There’s more information that people are trying to gather,” BOC Chairman Jay Paul said after Monday’s meeting, which approximately 50 people attended. “The public is still going to get their voice out.”
Paul said “a vote to approve or deny the rezone must happen at the July meeting,” which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 1.
The rezone request from Gray Wolf Quarries and Terra Mining to rezone Parcel 127 008 from General Agriculture to Heavy Industrial (Mineral Extraction) was approved by the zoning board in April, but tabled at the Board of Commissioners’ meeting on May 6.
The vote on the quarry rezone was the first item on the agenda. The commissioners voted on 11 other items before the BOC heard public comments from several residents, including owners of neighboring land.
None were in favor of the quarry, echoing the public comments at the May Commission meeting and at a forum held at Town and Country Kafe on May 23.
“So I ask you, Mr. (Andy) Saxon (District 2 Commissioner), are you going to stand beside your people or are you going to stand against us?” said Mike Laine, who owns land on Lexington-Carlton Road. “And Mr. Paul, I ask you as the chairman, are you honestly willing to potentially risk 25 families for one? And finally I ask the entirety of your board, are y’all men of integrity when overseeing what is truly best for us? Or are you men who hear your people and ignore their valued concerns for each of our homes and well beings.”
Marcia Connolly, who lives on Lexington-Carlton Road, voiced concerns about the quarry decreasing safety on the road and the impact it will have on nearby water sources.
“Granite trucks do not keep to their lane,” she said. “More than a few times I’ve had to run off the road to keep from having an accident. Moreover, they pay little attention to the posted speed limits on our narrow, windy roads. And should you be driving in front of a granite truck, some will tailgate you in an effort — I suppose — to make you drive faster. Heaven help me should a deer appear in the road.”
Other speakers brought concerns relating to potential negative impacts on air quality and the local ecosystem.
Loretta Brooks, the land owner, attended the meeting but didn’t speak.
In other business, the BOC:
Approved Theresa Anthony’s request to rezone land from general agriculture to agricultural residential as was recommended by the zoning board.
Approved Ted Smith’s request to rezone land from agriculture residential to single-family residential as was recommended by the zoning board.
Approved Properties One’s request to rezone land from general agriculture to single family residential as was recommended by the zoning board.
Approved Joyce Black’s request to rezone land from general agriculture to single family residential as was recommended by the zoning board. The BOC also approved Black’s request for a variance to allow a single-wide mobile home on that land, which the zoning board did not recommend.
Re-appointed Erin Bunch to the Board of Health.
Approved the Public Defender Budget Resolution.
Authorized submission to Second-level Application to DNR for a grant to complete Firefly Trail in Maxeys.
Approved a resolution amending the 2023 budget, taking into account overages that include an additional $145,062 allocated to the Sheriff’s Office for patrol car repairs and electricity.
Re-appointed Robert Daniels to the Department of Family and Children's Services Board.
- Approved the minutes from the May meeting, the monthly financial report, and funding for repairs to the HVAC at the Sheriff's Office and the walk-in freezer at the jail.