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Two Cusseta citizens spoke at the Chambers County Commission meeting on Monday night seeking help stopping a proposed aggregate mining facility and quarry from moving onto a private property on County Road 389. Laura McKay, a landowner, and Robert Gay, from the Cusseta Fire Department, both spoke about the negative impact they foresee the quarry having on the community.

McKay said her family is the closest permanent resident to the quarry site at .3 miles away. She said she is afraid the quarry will dry up her land and will impact her cattle and horses. 

“For the last 13 years, we’ve lived in a picture-perfect setting. It’s peaceful and it’s beautiful,” McKay said. “When our Lee County friends come to visit, they want to move here, and some of them have. All of this will change drastically if this quarry comes.”

McKay said a permit was applied for to ADEM last week. According to Commission Chairperson James Williams, the commission was aware of the potential quarry when McKay reached out last week. 

Williams told the Valley Times-News after the meeting that the situation was out of their hands. Because Chambers County has no zoning outside the municipal limits, the commission cannot stop landowners from doing what they want on their property. 

“My suggestion to them is there should be a public hearing about this permit,” Williams said. “That’s where they go get their chance to voice their opinion to ADEM about it.”

“Alabama counties are also responsible for establishing comprehensive land use management plans, constructing and maintaining roads and other services that provide public welfare of the community,” McKay said at the meeting. “This is where y’all can help us.”

McKay told the VT-N that ADEM will allow the public to submit comments and concerns related to air and water only for 30 days. If enough comments are submitted, the community will be granted a forum to voice their concerns or opposition to the quarry. 

McKay added that she hopes the whole county will support their opposition, adding, “We are a small community but this will affect more than just Cusseta and Cusseta Road … This is an issue for all of Chambers County.”

From noise and air pollution to county road damage, McKay said the community anticipates negative impacts all around. The dust from the quarry contains silica which can cause cancer and lung disease. McKay is also worried about the quality of well water which most Cusseta residents live on. 

“A lot of us are on wells with no other option for water. How would we supply water to our homes and to our families if the water table is affected? How would we supply water to 2,000 head of cattle and 29 horses when our ponds dry up?” She asked. 

McKay said it could also impact Cusseta’s existing industry at the Cusseta Industrial Park.

“This is home to more than 4,000 jobs and millions of dollars in annual tax revenues to the county [invests] in schools,” McKay said. “A quarry this size and magnitude, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will be detrimental to the foundations of these companies.”

McKay said that the trucks hauling loads to and from the rock quarry may also impact the county roads in Cusseta and other parts of the county as well. 

Gay said as a volunteer firefighter for the Cusseta Fire Department, he is worried that the quarry will affect the roads. He also said that it may block the fire department from getting to residents in an emergency.

“My main concern is that my understanding is they will have a track going out, which will cross [County Road] 389. That will cut us off from a good portion of our protection area. We will not be able to get in there to make medical calls, to make fire calls,” Gay said. “We’ve had numerous wrecks down on 389, close to the Lee County line.”

“This will affect all of Chambers County, not just Cusseta,” McKay said.