Athol residents blast rock quarry plan

ATHOL — Residents who would neighbor a proposed rock quarry north of Athol are fretting that they could lose their property values, quality of life and even general safety.

Although the quarry, expected to operate for about 50 years, would sit on property in Bonner County, adjacent residents who would feel its impacts live in Kootenai County, and wonder what government body will sympathize with their concerns.

“I’m here, I’m established, I have a life here, and they’re going to come along and change everything,” said nearby landowner Sheri Lorz, who worried the resulting dust would endanger the orchard and livestock she relies on to make a living.

 The Bonner County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 5:15 p.m. on Aug. 5 at the Sandpoint Federal Building on David L. Haman Trust’s request for a conditional use permit. The Hayden business hopes to build a mineral quarry and rock crusher on 110 of its acres a few miles north of Athol.

The quarry would be located at the intersection of Anglin and Roberts Road where it crosses the border of Kootenai and Bonner counties.

Other residents of the 40 to 50 houses in Lorz’s neighborhood are reeling as they anticipate likely noise, dust and heavy traffic, she said. Those who picked prime real estate for the valley view fear they will now stare at a gaping mineral pit, and worry it will reduce their property values.

“I’ll have to sell (my home),” said Jesse Smedley, who lives about 1,000 yards from the proposed site. His first concern is for his 3- and 8-year-old children, who wait for the school bus on Roberts Road, which will become the main access for quarry trucks. He also worried the mining could threaten the underlying aquifer. “Basically, it’s a pretty big deal for everybody out here.”

Residents also worry about who will maintain the only access road to the site, also the main road for entering the subdivision. Roberts Road is split between Kootenai and Bonner counties, and residents have pooled thousands of dollars every year to plow and maintain the gravel section they use.

“I’ve been paying for snow removal on that road for years, so they’re going to jump in and steal it when they don’t even have an address on this street?” Lorz said.

The first 25 feet of Roberts Road lies within the jurisdiction of the Lakes Highway District, and Road Supervisor Joe Wuest said the district has submitted comments to Bonner County about suggested improvements prior to the quarry’s construction.

“We asked Bonner County in our comment letter to ensure the road was improved to highway district standards,” Wuest said of pouring pavement that will better support truck traffic. “Local roads aren’t really built for this type of truck traffic operation, so they would have to build a heavier road section to withstand the loading of the trucks.”

How the road will be maintained once mining operations begin has yet to be discussed, but Wuest predicted the pavement won’t require much patching up. If residents complain about road disrepair though, he said the highway district will work something out with Bonner County.

Spokespeople for the applicant didn’t return phone messages, but the business has proposed widening the access road by 40 feet and dedicating it to Bonner County, said Clare Marley, Bonner County planning director.

The Hayden business has also agreed to several conditions to minimize impacts of its operations, such as applying a dust palliative throughout the life of the mine, and maintaining a vegetative buffer of at least 50 feet on three sides. Operations will be timed to accommodate locals, with mining and rock crushing lasting from March to November, weekdays only, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“When we’ve had mining operations come through for approval in the past, the testimony is always about coming home from work and the ability to have peace and quiet,” Marley said.

The applicant also said the mine’s noise will be reduced because of its location beside the local railroad.

But Lorz still has her doubts, and said neighbors are contacting each other and searching for the best avenue for protest.

“For the future of our children and the future of our property value and quality of life, this needs to be addressed by all those in the local area,” she said.