Mining permit denied

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors denied an appeal by Cliff Hunt, president of Standard Construction, to enlarge his gravel and sand pit in the Deer Creek and Bubba Taylor Road area.

Hunt, asked for a special exception to enlarge a mining site to 209 acres.

Zoning director Ken Jones, said the zoning board approved a smaller area next to I-269 and Highway 302, but opposed his expansion of the 209-acre site.

Jones said letters sent out to property owners and a petition led the zoning board to deny special exception to the large site.

“He is asking approval to add on to the existing site,” Jones said.

The mining operation is located in District 3.

Thirty-four acres were approved by zoning.

District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor said haulers are coming out on Highway 309 North.

“I went to zoning to hear,” Taylor said. “The issues I’ve had it (the mine) is supposed to be 300 feet from Bubba Taylor Road. A person built near the small spot. I understand there is a shortage of sand and gravel. But at the end of the day, there are families that live out there and I think I owe it to them.”

Taylor said checking with adjacent property owners is okay but “when you drive past you see a big hole. I work for people who live out there.”

He said there is a big hole 54 feet from the road.

“I was told it should be 300 feet from the road,” Taylor said.

He said the entrance to Bubba Taylor Road, off 309 where the gravel pit is, goes to Deer Creek Road which ties back to Highway 309.

The county has assisted the gravel pit business for years, Taylor said.

Hunt said expansion of the pit (located on Gravel Pit Road) would be an opportunity. He said the elevation is below the road and works back to the west.

“Hunt is correct,” Taylor said. “They went through the proper procedure. Fifteen years ago we had some discussion.”

The plant sits on the Nichols property. The 209 acres requested is connected to 360 acres of the Bridges property, Taylor said.

“That would be 400 something acres,” Taylor continued. “I got elected to serve the people. Fifteen years ago we needed the material out there. The county has grown since then. There’s a lot of potential growth. I think it will be more neighborhood friendly if it is not (used for) mining.”

District 5 supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett asked how the reclamation effort is coming along at the gravel pit.

Hunt said they have been actively working on that about two years.

“Reclaiming was done but some of it washed away again,” Bennett said.

Hunt said the site has 30 acres of grass.

“A big area,” Bennett said.

“The process of reclamation, we rough grade the property then use topsoil and reseed,” Hunt said. “MDEQ (Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality) governs whether is is reclaimed or not. We have a bond with DEQ, including the washing. You have to go back and repair washes and reseed.”

Taylor made a motion to deny both the large and small site requests.

“What we’ve worked on is allowed,” Hunt said.

The same entrance to road is also the exit, Hunt said. Truck traffic will not increase and there is no fire hazard.

“I contend this will not affect the character of the neighborhood,” he said. “There is 400 feet of wooded growth. It operates below ground level so sight and sound is buffered.”

Hunt said the county would benefit.

“We provide local materials which reduces the cost to haul by 20 miles,” Hunt said. “We have 10 good paying jobs and a $9.5 million payroll since we’ve been there. We trade with local vendors.”

He said the company pays over $450,000 in property taxes and $1 million in sales tax is paid to the state on the equipment.

“It’s a definite economic benefit to us being there,” Hunt said. “Some people go to Alabama to get it.”

Taylor and District 1 supervisor Charles Terry asked if the company has a comprehensive plan.

Hunt said the whole block of property is family owned, was split up for years and then the family purchased the land back and is now under common ownership.

Jones said Taylor is correct, that on Bubba Taylor Road the barrier is just off the road and reclamation has not held.

“You can reclaim and have a hole in the ground that can never be used again,” Bennett said.

Taylor’s motion to deny Hunt’s appeal for a special exception on both properties was seconded by District 2 supervisor Eddie Dixon and the motion to deny passed unanimously.