Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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material. He added they checked with DOGAMI. He said that Dr. Kimberley has made no connection between rock dust and their excavating. He stated their excavating does not create rock dust. He said that any rock dust they produce is produced by the plant when their crushers actually mash up rock. He said that is covered by LRAPA’s permit. He noted there is a limit to how much they can produce. Avon Babb, Eugene, said they had only received one LRAPA citation at Delta Sand and Gravel and that citation (as Cornacchia mentioned) had been dismissed. He noted the others had been at construction sites at other places. With regard to traffic, their plant production and traffic will not change or increase. He said they are permitted by LRAPA and they have a cap on how much rock they could produce and sell each year. He said he is co-owner of Delta Sand and Gravel. He said the Babb family has owned most of the property since the 1860’s. He indicated that his brother started Delta Sand and Gravel in 1965. He believed they had met all the state requirements for Goal 5 that was set up to protect aggregate resources such as theirs. He said if they met the requirements they could keep extracting gravel. He said it was ironic that the new homes were built west of their property and the owners did not wish them to expand. He indicated that the owner got the property zoned for single family residences. He said they cleared the site and installed the utilities. He said they are good stewards of the land. He indicated they set aside 45 acres for a Blue Heron rookery. He said his site is available to the community as a gravel fresh rock ready mix concrete source and a place to leave excavation materials. He stated it saves the community money, time and fuel. He commented the farther away a resource is, the more costly it is for everyone. He explained the citations that were mentioned previously were all construction sites away from Delta Sand and Gravel. Clyde Beet, Eugene, stated he is a farmer who farms his property next to Delta Sand and Gravel. He commented that he had not seen the negative impact that Delta Sand and Gravel had on farming. He said his well went dry and he and Delta resolved the problem. He thought the dust complaints that Delta had were from him because he is a farmer and is allowed to make dust. He commented that Delta doesn’t do anything he doesn’t see. He thought people were making statements that were less than factual because he is in the area every day. He thought elected officials should follow the scientists and the experts and not the people who claim to be experts. Dan Branton, stated he is employed by the Babb family and is impressed by them. He said if they eliminate competition that prices will go up and it will affect the public who will have to pay more. He commented that the people who moved into the new housing tract knew a gravel pit was there. Mike Altucker, Eugene, spoke in favor of Delta Sand and Gravel’s application as a neighbor, a competitor and as a Goal 5 veteran. He said the sand and gravel industry is an industry people can’t live without. He noted they are currently using ten to twelve tons per person per year in Lane County. He commented that gravel is found where nature puts it. He urged the Board’s consideration to approve Delta Sand and Gravel’s application. Page 12 – Joint Elected Officials' Meeting – December 12, 2006 WD bc/m/06121/T