Quarry Quotes.....more from Thursday's meeting

During more than five hours of presentations by both quarry developers and opponents at Thursday's Land Reclamation Commission meeting in Jefferson City, each side made their best attempt to sway commissioners to their side.

The commission still hasn't made a decision on whether or not to grant a formal hearing on two limestone mining permit applications near Fruitland.

One of the most challenging things we reporters have to do is take lengthy public meetings like this one and boil them down into 20 or so inches in the newspaper.

Here are several quotes from those who addressed the commission that didn't make it into my story. Here's a link to the original story: http://www.semissourian.com/story/1698360.html

"Imagine you're taking an algebra test and all the sudden your seat shakes. You've lost your concentration. Not a conducive learning environment." - Dr. Craig Ernstmeyer, principal, Saxony Lutheran High School.

"A normal person can be in a dusty location and it goes into their lungs and they're able to process it, children or people with respiratory issues ingest this particulate matter and they can't process it in the same way." - Abby Petzoldt of Fruitland, spokeswoman & mother of children with asthma, Save Our Children's Health, Inc.

"I can't afford a lot of (home) repairs if they start blasting. I am a single woman on a fixed income." - Jean Ann Pierce of Fruitland.

who has lived in Fruitland for 36 years said her teenage daughter was killed by a lime truck driver and she feared for the safety of students.

"When you put truck drivers with a quota to meet and 16-year-old kids who think they are invincible together on the same road there will be t least one death. Probably more." - Carolyn Cannon of Fruitland, whose daughter was killed in an accident involving a rock hauling truck.

"There's really no good way to control the dust. It settles on the grass, the kids play in it, the wind blows, these kids breathe in this dust and if they have some deficiency to remove this, some kids could be immune-compromised. Over time it's a significant exposure." -Dr. Paul Horn, pathologist.

"The principals involved in the Heartland Quarry are experienced in mining, earth moving and materials moving. None of the principals have had any compliance issues with any DNR programs. They run well operated operations in compliance with all DNR requirements."- Robert Wilkinson, attorney for Heartland Materials. "We've heard a lot of concern and a lot of potential effects expressed by the petitioners, we have taken a lot of measures to address many of those concerns."

"There are a lot of misconceptions about blasting and what they're capable of." - Phyllis Hassler, VibraTech Engineers. "Blasting within regulatory limits is not capable of damaging nearby structures such as water wells and home foundations. Vibrations that travel through the air are no stronger than what you would get in a thunderstorm."

"Everybody assumes explosives have this infinite amount of energy. A pound of explosive has X amt of energy, just like a gal of gasoline has. You can count on what kind of blast damage you do to rock based on that certain energy. You're not going to get anymore than that." -Todd Braden, Explosive Contractors.

"This is a balancing test for the commission." - Brian McGovern, attorney for Strack Excavating.

"Mr. Strack lives 87 ft from his quarry, he has raised two children there and never encountered damage to his home or homes located in close proximity." - Brian McGovern, attorney for Strack Excavating. "There is no scientific evidence of risk to health, safety or livelihood associated with a properly managed operation."