Benton County Planners Weigh Centerton Quarry Permit

— Benton County planners on Wednesday heard a request for a fourth extension on a permit issued to the Centerton Quarry, which would give the business another year to begin operating.

The county first approved quarry plans at 15271 Burgin Valley Road, just west of Centerton, in 2006. Permits may be extended if work isn't begun on a project and two-year extensions were granted in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

The board asked the county staff for updated information on stipulations attached to the initial permit, including the status of needed permits, details of planned improvements to Bethlehem Road and the road's intersection with Arkansas 102 where trucks entering and leaving the quarry will be pulling out onto the highway.

The board also asked for an update on agreements with the Benton-Washington Regional Water Authority and Centerton, Highfill and Decatur about water lines they have on or near the site.

Most of the requested updates were provided and Chris Collins with the Rogers Group, which plans to operate the quarry, said the remainder will be provided.

Collins said the company has delayed work because it has been heavily involved in other work, notably working on Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department projects on Interstate 40. The completion of that work will allow the company to move crews and equipment to the Benton County site, he said.

Ashley Tucker, board chairman, asked Collins about the duration and frequency of blasting at the site. The permit limits hours of operation to 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m.-noon on Saturday. Blasting is restricted to 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Collins said the blasting would be infrequent, once or twice a week at most, depending on demands of the business. He said blasting would happen no more than once a day on the days when it is done.

"It's one blast per day," Collins said. "That produces enough material for the operation of the plant."

Mark Curtis, board member, said he's concerned about the intersection of Bethlehem Road and Arkansas 102, more so since Centerton opened a fire station nearby.

"It's a tough intersection in my mind if a filled truck is coming out and a fire truck is coming over that hill," Curtis said.

The extension will be the subject of a public hearing by the Planning Board at its April 2 meeting

In its other business, the Planning Board on heard updates on the planned J&D Liquor project at 14199 West Arkansas 12 in Rogers and on the Area Lake Boat and Mini Storage at 14442 East Arkansas 12 in Rogers.

NW News on 03/20/2014

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