County finds it slow going to improve roads to Millersville mine

Cape Girardeau County is having mixed success gaining property easements so two county roads near Millersville can be altered to accommodate truck traffic from a new sand mine.

Capital Sand Proppants, owned by Capital Sand Co. Inc. of Jefferson City, Missouri, began mining and processing Northern White frack sand at a large site south of Highway 72 between Jackson and Millersville earlier this year.

Since the onset of the mine's development, the county has worked on plans to pave and widen county roads 346 and 347, said Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy, but has met some challenges.

"Improving those roads has been something we've been concerned about since day one," Tracy said. "We are doing what we can with limited resources and options available to us."

The roads, which are narrow, hilly and mostly gravel, can't be widened and paved until all property owners along the routes agree to the easement process.

The Capital Sand Co. plant in Millersville is seen Wednesday. (Laura Simon)

Sherrie Mayfield and her family have lived on County Road 346 for more than 25 years. She said residents reluctant to give easements have several concerns, including noise, dust and environmental effects, such as possibly disturbing streams and springs in the area.

She said many residents believe not giving in to the county's requests also may force truck traffic to take another route if the sections of the road with tight corners and limited visibility stay as they are.

Mayfield's driveway is near the intersection of County Road 346 and 347, and she can see part of the mine operations from her home's front yard.

She said the mine, apart from the traffic it generates, so far has been a fairly good neighbor, notifying residents prior to blasting operations and respecting speed limits.

But the mine has changed the country setting she and her neighbors were accustomed to.

"It's big and loud," she said. "It's definitely there."

Tracy said the company does "run a pretty tight operation, it seems like, but there is increased truck traffic."

Tracy estimated there are about 20 homes in the area of the two county roads and called the attempts of the county to gain easements "a continuing discussion."

"I think we are starting to see some breakthrough," he said, which has resulted in the county seeking aid in administering grants to help pay for road improvements.

County commissioners earlier this month approved awarding administration services for grant applications to the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission in Perryville, Missouri, and engineering design and inspection services to Koehler Engineering.

Road crews were performing work Wednesday on County Road 346, paid for through the county's road and bridge tax fund.

There still is much to be done, including a way to pay for paving and widening the roads, aside from overcoming the easement issues, Tracy said.

The cost per mile of paving is about $250,000, Tracy said. The county is looking at matching some grant funds and talking with the company about the cost. Company representatives were not present at the mine office Wednesday, and an attempt to reach a manager by email was unsuccessful.

Tracy said the dust created by more traffic in the area can limit visibility, and there aren't methods to control dust that have proven effective.

Mayfield said heavy rains this summer have helped limit dust on the roads, but she has noticed quite a bit kicked up during recent, drier days.

The commission already has approved a lower speed limit on the roads to improve safety, which Tracy said is the county's primary concern.

eragan@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632

Pertinent address:

1141 County Road 346, Millersville, MO

1 Barton Square, Jackson, MO