Fruitland group forms in opposition to quarry

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been modified to correct the source of a statement about the location of the proposed Heartland Materials quarry.

Some Fruitland area residents are organizing to oppose plans by Strack Excavating for a quarry off U.S. 61.

Strack recently applied to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for an air quality permit but has yet to file for a surface mining permit for property along County Road 601, adjacent to and behind the Rhodes 101 in Fruitland.

Those opposed to the development have created a website, www.NoQuarriesInFruitland.com, and a Facebook page. The website has an online petition that's already been signed by more than 250 people, and volunteers are circulating paper petitions as well.

"We are emotional about it but also very practical," said Abby Petzoldt, who lives on Eli Drive in Fruitland. "We want to be respectful in our process, but we are very upset."

Breathing problems from dust, increased truck traffic and contaminated/depleted wells are among the group's concerns. Members also fear blasting will damage house foundations and that their property values will decrease.

The group is planning a public meeting in about two weeks to educate people on the hazards the quarry development poses to the community, Petzoldt said.

They hope to have a representative from each of the 12 subdivisions within a two-mile radius of the proposed quarry site, said volunteer Jen Wahlers.

Although Wahlers doesn't live in Fruitland, her two children attend Saxony Lutheran High School, near the proposed quarry site.

"If I am sitting in class taking a quiz and hear blasting going on next door, I would not be thinking about learning, I would be thinking what was that? A bomb going off?" Wahlers said.

A second company, Heartland Materials, is interested in putting in a quarry even closer to Saxony than the Strack property. The company is registered to St. Louis lawyer Gary Eberhardt but, according to the DNR, has not applied for any permits. According to county records, the property where Steve Obermann and Richard Hurst of Heartland Materials told Cape Girardeau County commissioners in July they plan to locate a quarry is owned by Joe Hoffmeister, Hoffmeister Farms and Hoffmeister Real Estate. Joe Hoffmeister would not comment on the possible sale of the land.

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said at Thursday's commission meeting that the county has no control over business development in outlying areas of the county because in 2000 voters rejected an attempt to establish planning and zoning in unincorporated areas.

"They said very strongly, 'Keep your nose out of our business. We want no government interference.' Now they want government interference. We have no authority on this," Jones said.

Petzoldt, who moved to Fruitland about five years ago, said she many others who now live there didn't in 2000 when that vote was taken.

Petzoldt and Wahlers said they are concerned most about how dust from the quarry will cause problems for people who have conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

"I'm not a pulmonologist, but common sense says if there is more dust in the air children at these schools and my children will be affected," said Petzoldt, whose daughter suffers from asthma.

Although not as close as Saxony Lutheran, North Elementary and two day cares are within a two-mile radius of the quarry site. Also within that distance are about 20 businesses, which Wahlers fears may leave if a quarry opens.

"I don't want all the businesses to start pulling out and taking good jobs with them," Wahlers said.

DNR communications director Judd Slivka said Strack's permit application is under review.

The process for each permit will include a 15-day public comment period during which Petzoldt and Wahlers said they will present their petitions.

"When that comes we want a flood of public outcry. That is really want we are building up to," Petzold said.

A phone call to Strack Excavating owner Joe Strack, who also operates a quarry outside Cape Girardeau, was not returned.

Staff writer Carrie Bartholomew contributed to this report.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent addresses:

U.S. 61 & County Road 601, Jackson, MO

5120 Highway 74, Cape Girardeau, MO