City residents leave town meetings frustrated
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff writer
Depending upon whom you listen to, a decision to allow a Union Grove-based company to set up an asphalt plant on the former J.W. Peters property in Burlington may be a good move to create jobs in the area – or a dangerous mix of noise and pollution.
In a contentious meeting of the Town of Burlington Planning and Zoning Committee May 24, the committee – and then the Town Board – unanimously approved a proposal for Asphalt Contractors, Inc. to place an asphalt plant on Town of Burlington property that borders the southwest corner of the city.
The Town Board first approved a zoning change, which moves the parcel of land – a comma-shaped jut of town property virtually surrounded by city land – to M-3 heavy industrial, and then the conditional use permit to the company.
The unanimous approval by the Planning and Zoning Committee, though, sent most of the crowd of about 75 people out the door, with many muttering comments of disapproval for the whole process.
In comments following the meeting, city residents complained that it seemed like the board had made up its mind previous to the meeting and that the large number of citizens who showed up for the meeting were largely ignored.
In a comment on the myracinecounty.com website, a poster identifying him or herself as “disgustedtoo” said, “This is a travesty! The fact that Ralph Rice and his board rammed this through speaks volumes! They had NO intention of listening to those of us who live close. Toxins in the air, noise pollution, etc., etc., – for FIVE JOBS???
“Totally disgusting.”
That one attitude seemed to sum up the majority of the opposing opinions voiced at the Town Board meeting by city residents.
The plant
While a few people spoke out in favor of the jobs the plant would create, numerous concerns were raised about noise, the possible release of chemicals into the air during the asphalt-making process, and in general about quality of life.
Bob Kordus, who owns ACI in Union Grove, said the company would use a masking/odor-removing agent that would keep the asphalt odors from reaching city residents, except in the form of a faint cherry scent.
He also explained that the plant would not be producing liquid asphalt. Instead, it will mix liquid asphalt with stone to produce the product used to pave roads. The system used to create the asphalt is contained with a bag system plus a scavenging fan, Kordus said, and trucks leaving the facility would be covered to prevent any odor escaping from them.
“We will obtain all the DNR permits and meet all DNR regulations,” Kordus explained. The plant would run from roughly 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and two Saturdays a month – as recommended by the Racine County Land Use Planning Committee May 21.
The plant would operate on property now owned by Cretex Materials, in a land-condominium agreement, and would at most, Kordus said, involve 100 trucks a day entering and leaving the plant – and most times, much less than that.
Kordus also said that noise from the plant would be approximately 40 decibels at 1,500 feet – which is less than the distance of the closest homes. That noise level, he said, translates to the noise in a quiet library. Furthermore, the area is surrounded by foliage and soft land, Kordus explained, which would further muffle the noise.
There will be interior drainage for the plant, meaning any water used will remain on site, and a well on site has already been closed.
Trucks would most likely use the bypass highway to transport asphalt, rather than going through the city streets, he added.
The opposition
Any reassurances from Kordus, however, fell mostly on deaf ears. Garfield Street resident Paul Ivkovich spoke first, reading a prepared statement.
“I came here today not to oppose commerce or oppose new business,” he said. “The odor and noise reduction is great, but I have much deeper concerns.”
Ivkovich went on to outline the release of chemicals that are known to cause cancer, as well as possible toxins being released.
He was also one of several residents to point out that there are six schools in close proximity to the plant, and that children are susceptible to the kind of toxins the plant could release.
While Ivkovich was calm, others were less so. Mary Shepherd, who lives on Kane Street, complained about the possible noise, saying, “My house doesn’t get rocking and rolling at six in the morning.”
After another man raised the same issue about the noise, a man identifying himself as a Cretex employee said there was no way that residents were hearing truck back-up alarms at the site. That quickly de-evolved into a “Yes, I do,” “No, you don’t,” “Yes, I do,” exchange that Rice had to raise his voice to stop.
Kevin Adamak, meanwhile, took issue with the cherry deodorizer, saying he has used aerosol sprays when having to change a baby’s diaper.
“You know what it smelled like?” he asked. “Cherry crap.”
Overblown?
Vicky View Petersen, a long-time town resident, spoke out for the plant, calling the protest against it much the same kind of hysteria that erupted three years ago when the town approved a portable asphalt plant placement on the Baumeister gravel pit area.
“We’ve all kind of been through this before,” she said. “We heard a lot of the sky is falling, that we’re all dying of cancer.”
She also pointed out that Nestle – which produces the famous chocolate smell many pick up on in the city – is probably one of the biggest “contaminators” in the city.
“This probably wouldn’t even register on the map,” she said.
John McCoy, who has lived on West Market Street for 13 years, felt there shouldn’t be any question about allowing the plant.
“I’ve been on top of this property for 13 years. I’ve been around this project a long time,” he said of the J. W. Peters/Cretex property. “If the guy wants to come into town and is going to comply, what’s the problem?”
Kordus also pointed out that fast-food restaurants and Chinese restaurants release more chemicals than the asphalt plant will, and vowed to be a “good corporate citizen” and listen to the community.
The issue will go to the County Board for final approval, and Kordus hopes to start building the plant by July.
County Planning Director Julie Anderson said last week that the earliest the matter would be considered is mid-June.
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