DAVIESS CO., KY (WFIE) -
After sitting through long meetings and hearing arguments from both sides, Daviess Fiscal Court approves strip mining in the Pleasant Ridge area.
The court okayed an ordinance that allows Western Kentucky Minerals to mine nearly 700 acres, creating a number of new jobs.
The Fiscal Court voted unanimously to allow mining of nearly 700 acres of land in Pleasant Ridge, but residents opposing the mine say it's not over yet.
Judge Executive Al Mattingly will be the first one to admit it.
"I wouldn't want a mine in my backyard," he said.
The Fiscal Court has spent the last month looking at all the facts.
"We listened to what people said," Mattingly said. "We went to find out for ourselves. Some of the testimony we found was accurate, some wasn't so accurate."
In the end, Mattingly says the Daviess County comprehensive plan has parts of Pleasant Ridge zoned for mining.
"It's been exciting. It's been kind of a big deal," said Brandon Lanham with Western Kentucky Minerals. "It's been good for the company to kind of explain some of the safety procedures. It's a family out there, so as far as the safety part of it, we wouldn't want to live with the life on our shoulders either."
Western Kentucky Minerals tell 14 News the strip mining will create 20 to 30 jobs. On the other side residents against the mine say it's not worth it.
"It's disappointing," said Tony Isbill, who is against the mining. "It's not a surprise. We excepted the decision that was made here tonight. We certainly disagree with it."
Before the Fiscal Court approved mining, some amendments were made to the ordinance, they say, to help out the residents living in that area.
"We had a lot of issues about noise and one of those issues I think we can resolve by the use of strobe lights," Mattingly said.
Other amendments include no mining on Sundays, no mining on holidays, and no mining within 1,000 feet from any home. Those against the mining say the amendments are a joke.
"They were meaningless," Isbill said. "The 2,000 foot buffer for the girlscouts. That was already in there because there's an oil field that prohibits them from going there. It was window dressing."
We're told people opposing the mine will take the issue as far as they can. Their next step would be Daviess County Circuit Court.
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Residents had appealed an earlier ruling, expressing concerns about blasting, increased traffic and property values.
