Meeting at Winkler School August 6th

Citizens Against the Warren Road Asphalt Plant will hold a meeting on August 6, 2009 at Winkler School at 7:00 pm.

Please come to see the powerpoint presentation which will be presented to the Town Board on August 13, 2009. We will have a brainstorming session after the presentation. The decision regarding the proposed plant will be made by the Town Board on August 27, 2009 at the Town Hall. We need a strong show of support at that meeting. Please forward this invitaion to anyone else you know who is interested. Hope to see you on Aug 6.

Controversial asphalt plant vote delayed again

Our blog was mentioned in WalworthCountytoday.com on July 22, 2009:

Neighbors opposing the project say their concerns include the long-term implications on health and environment caused by air pollution and ground water contamination; the increased number of diesel powered trucks on the roads; the loss in property values and the close proximity to a densely populated area and a elementary school.

They have launched Web site, www.bohnerlake.blogspot.com, and are urging Amon to choose a different site.

Asphalt Plant Pollution

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states “Asphalt processing and asphalt roofing manufacturing facilities are major sources of hazardous air pollutants such as formaldehyde, hexane, phenol, polycyclic organic matter, and toluene. Exposure to these air toxics may cause:

1. Cancer
2. Central nervous system problems
3. Liver damage
4. Respiratory problems and skin irritation.”
   
   [Source EPA].

OHIO EPA:

"Asphalt plants are regulated because they are air pollution sources that may emit significant levels of both particulate matter and gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants are considered to be detrimental to human health . Some VOCs are suspected carcinogens."

Opinion in the Journal Times

Commentary: Asphalt plant not welcome in Town of Burlington

By Christine Schultz
Town of Burlington resident

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 11:39 PM CDT

After attending the Burlington Planning and Zoning Meeting on June 25, I left feeling uneasy about the “temporary portable hot mix asphalt plant” being proposed.

Dozens of residents spoke out against the plant and our concerns must have struck a chord with three of the members who voted against the proposal. Unfortunately that isn’t the end of it. The proposal, which was approved by the Racine County Board the week before, will get the final vote by the Burlington Town Board on July 23.

Residents raised important considerations about air and water quality. Bohners Lake is only one nautical mile away from the proposed site for the asphalt plant and it is in the direct path of the constant westerly winds. Toxic chemicals will pollute the air. A brain surgeon from Bohners Lake expressed that contaminated fumes even at one-fourth of a percent are dangerous enough to cause brain tumors and cancer. I have read articles about residents living near similar asphalt plants in other areas of the United States who developed upper respiratory complications within six months of the plant’s operation.

Read more here

Thanks, Christine!

Town Board Vote Delayed

From My Racine County Online:

Town further delays decision
A decision on a controversial proposal to bring a portable asphalt plant to a gravel pit near the Bohners Lake neighborhood has been postponed, with the Town of Burlington Board of Supervisors not expected to act on the request until Aug. 27... Read entire article here...

Ralph Rice say in the article, "Regardless of what we do we're not going to be very popular."

Does that sound like a board member who cares about the people he represents? Or is he more concerned about a business being mad at him? You tell me...