Asphalt plant makes poor introduction to community

Since 2001, citizens of Sagle have asked the county commissioners to not allow Interstate Asphalt batch plant to operate in the Sagle corridor. To our frustration, our wishes have been ignored and we now live with the result. The zoning is to change from rural/commercial to industrial and the batch plant along with other industry will be there on a permanent basis. No one will be able to change it.

It is not fair to impose the problems this zoning change will bring the Sagle community.

Already we have backed-up traffic traveling into Sandpoint, often past Gun Club Road. When traffic moves freely, many people travel between 65 to 70 mph. Now when the asphalt plant is running at full tilt, we could have up to 65 truckloads or more coming out of the pit road per day onto a curve in Highway 95. Is this what we want for the gateway to Sandpoint?

All the landscaping in the world won't cover the asphalt odor or the trucks pulling onto the highway. This will be the first glimpse and smell of the Sandpoint area for those coming to visit our tourist destination. Would the commissioners allow this near the new Idaho Club golf course. Of course they wouldn't. Then why Sagle?

SANDY SMITH

Sagle