Decision on proposed quarry tabled until September

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 8:43 AM

By Paul Gable

The matter will now come before the commissioners on September 17.

Whether or not the Putnam County Commissioners approve a proposed quarry in Warren Township will have to wait until September after the commissioners voted to table the matter.

The matter will now come before the commissioners on September 17 at 9 a.m.

The decision to table the matter comes on the heels of the Putnam County Area Plan Commission voting 7-3 to push it forward with no recommendation as to whether it was favorable or not. The proposed quarry would sit on approximately 200 acres of land owned by Hayman Holdings. The owners are looking to have the land rezone from agricultural preservation to natural resources for the purpose of extracting minerals with the purpose of the land becoming a limestone quarry. Eric Hayman is the owner of the land and the proposed quarry would be run by Greg Goud and Dean Boyd, former owners of 243 Quarry and Deer Creek Crushed Limestone. The quarry would be in the area of County Road 700 South and 75 East and would be one of six quarries within a three mile radius of the land.

Resident Tracy Reed has pushed against the proposed quarry and welcomed the news from the commissioners.

She said by having it tabled, it allows those against the matter an opportunity to collaborate with their attorney, Eddie Felling, to ensure points of contention are "sound."

"Having a united front will strengthen our points and help convey the community's collective voice," Reed told The Putnam County Post.

Reed said she believes the commissioners will make the "best choice" when the time comes next month.

"It was an incredible hard experience for many of the residents the night of the meeting with the zoning board to really convey all the experiences of living this close to that many quarries. Emotions had been strong, and we were only given one minute and 30 seconds to speak. That is a very short time to try and convey such an important topic. The board did make sure they stayed until everyone had been heard. Having this time will ensure what I had previously mentioned," Reed said.