Public Hearing on CR 31 at Old Fort High School скачать в хорошем качестве

Public Hearing on CR 31 at Old Fort High School

Seneca County Commissioners Vote to Close Portion of County Road 31 After Packed Public Hearing OLD FORT — The Seneca County Board of Commissioners voted 2–1 Tuesday night to vacate a one-mile section of County Road 31 following a public hearing attended by more than 150 residents at Old Fort High School. The hearing focused on a request from Carmuse Lime to close an unoccupied stretch of County Road 31 adjacent to its Maple Grove Quarry. Company officials said the closure is necessary to address long-term safety concerns related to quarry haul truck traffic and continued expansion of mining operations. County Engineer Mark Zimmerman outlined the legal process for road vacations and noted the unusually large turnout. Commissioners also conducted a required site viewing earlier in the day. During its presentation, Carmuse Lime cited safety as the primary reason for requesting the closure, stating that County Road 31 intersects active quarry haul routes. Company representatives said power haulage incidents are the leading cause of fatalities in the mining industry and argued that eliminating public road crossings would remove what they described as an avoidable risk. Carmuse also presented traffic studies using ODOT-approved methods and third-party consultants, showing a decline in traffic on County Road 31 over the past decade. Officials described the one-mile section as unoccupied and carrying relatively low traffic volumes, with remaining traffic expected to be redistributed across nearby roadways with minimal impact. To offset the closure, Carmuse committed to investing approximately $2.8 million to upgrade Township Road 71 prior to the vacation of County Road 31. Proposed improvements include roadway widening, curve realignment, intersection upgrades, improved signage, and long-term maintenance funded by the company. Following public comment, commissioners explained their votes and the factors considered in the decision. Commissioner Tony Paradiso stated that the board lacks the authority to halt quarry expansion or blasting activity, and the decision ultimately came down to mitigating impacts where possible. Paradiso stated that he reviewed traffic data indicating approximately 400 vehicles per day on County Road 31, read public emails, and consulted with emergency services, fire departments, and school transportation officials. Paradiso also pointed to formal agreements approved earlier this fall that are contingent on the road closure. He noted that on Oct. 21, the Village of Bettsville unanimously approved an expansion agreement with Carmuse, and on Oct. 6, Liberty Township trustees approved a long-term roadway maintenance agreement. Without the closure, Paradiso said, those agreements would not take effect. Under the agreements, Carmuse would conduct long-term monitoring for water wells and building foundations within a 1,500-foot radius of blasting areas, establish seismic monitoring baselines, and assume responsibility for repairs if blasting-related damage occurs. The agreements are set to last up to 25 years. Paradiso also said Township Road 71 would receive major upgrades at Carmuse’s expense, including intersection improvements, and would be maintained by the company. He said diverting quarry truck traffic away from County Road 31 and formalizing protections for residents was, in his view, a safer long-term option. Commissioner Brent Busdecker also voted in favor of the closure, citing safety concerns and the risk of serious accidents involving quarry haul trucks. Busdecker said while there is no perfect solution, he was troubled by the possibility of a collision involving a family vehicle and heavy quarry equipment. Busdecker said he considered the potential consequences of leaving the road open, adding that he did not want traffic pushed into residential neighborhoods or township back roads but believed the risk posed by haul trucks crossing County Road 31 outweighed those concerns. Commissioner Bill Frankart voted against the closure. Frankart expressed concern about setting a precedent for future road vacations and questioned whether traffic counts justified closing a county road. He noted that County Road 31 serves existing businesses and residents and raised concerns about shifting traffic to township roads that may receive less winter maintenance and treatment. Frankart also said creating a safety net around every roadway hazard is difficult and questioned whether closing the road would meaningfully reduce overall risk, pointing out that heavy trucks already operate on other county and township roads throughout Seneca County. The 2–1 vote authorizes the vacation of the designated one-mile section of County Road 31. County officials said the closure will not take effect until required roadway improvements and agreements are finalized.