The Kent County Commissioners were greeted by roughly 200 protesters last night as they arrived at the R. Clayton Mitchell, Jr. Office Building on High Street for their weekly meeting. Protesters came in opposition to a proposed 339-acre rubble-fill in Massey that will bring 1,200 tons of construction debris to the County each day–if approved.
“The developer is pulling out all the stops,” said one protestor. “They will say anything at this point to get what they want, and the Commissioners aren’t expressing any creative alternatives for economic growth. I can’t believe this is the limit of their imagination. If It is, they all need to resign because this is visionless leadership.”
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Residents and local environmental groups have ratcheted up opposition in recent weeks after the developer, Kent Recycling and Land Reclamation, “spiked the Kool-Aide” with lofty promises of revenue sharing, job creation, and local scholarships–in an attempt to sway public opinion.
The rubble-fill would accumulate nearly 40-million tons of rubble over its lifespan and then be entombed within 100 yards of areas of the Sassafras River. Citizens and local environmental groups say they’ve heard nothing in the proposal that guarantees the safety of the groundwater and the Sassafras. Residents are also scared the calm rural setting in Massey will be invaded be convoys of trucks each day spilling debris along the roads.
“The Commissioners seem to care little of the folks up here in the north,” another protester said. “I’m sure the Commissioners’ more wealthy supporters in Chestertown would stop this thing dead in its tracks if it was proposed for the outskirts of Chestertown…these are the same folks who want to row their boats in the Chester River without having to see stray plastic bags.”
Protesters were also concerned that neither Commissioner has publicly stated where they’re leaning, although there is wide speculation on each of the Commissioners. The most speculation has focused on Commissioner Alex Rasin, who residents fear may not be able to deliver an impartial decision because of past representation of members of the Alexander family, who own the rubble-fill site.
Rasin told the Spy on Wednesday that he has represented clients “that are on both sides of this issue,” Rasin said. “I can make an impartial decision regardless of my previous clients.”
Rasin said he hopes the issue will come to a vote soon because he’s “anxious to settle the matter.” Rasin said he would not indicate his position before a vote.
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by Melissa McIntire
Bearing homemade signs and T-shirts, the crowd filled the commissioner’s hearing room to capacity leaving many folks to lean against the back walls and stand in the outside hallway.
Before the meeting was called to order Commissioner Alex Rasin asked, “Is there anyone left in Golts?”
An audience member replied, “Most of the people here aren’t from Golts.”
As the meeting wore on many protesters left, but 15-20 remained until the end. Commissioner Ron Fithian thanked them for coming and making their point “professionally and courteously.”
An audience member asked if the commissioners were considering the rubble fill proposal.
“We’ve been considering it since it was presented,” Fithian said. He said that even though the public comment period has expired the commissioners’ office is still receiving written comments on the proposal and the commissioners read all of them.
“We live here. We’ve been hearing comments every day. People talk to us and we listen,” said Rasin.
In June Kent Recycling & Land Reclamation approached the commissioners with a proposal for a 339-acre rubble fill in the northern part of the county. The facility would receive approximately 1,200 tons of construction and demolition materials a day from locations in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Kent Recycling would own and operate the facility under a management agreement with the county.
John says
Heartwarming to see so many ages represented by the protestors. Way to go Kent County residents!
thatguy says
This should be fairly interesting to see play out. On one hand the commissioners need to create some kind of job growth in this county yet on the other they also need to keep the people happy. I think what they need to weigh is will this project be worth it in the long run for the county? If i were in there position i’d be in a tough spot, i have a familiarity with how these dumps work and would feel about as safe as you can with the instillation of this project, however there is always a risk involved and there is always the potential for corruption in a project like this. Toxic chemicals in a dump where they aren’t supposed to go is a reality these days.
kathleen says
There are a number of people who believe that Alex Rasin should recuse himself, becaus of his representation of the Alexander family and the other neighbors, for whom he has done real estate and estate planning work. This is viewed as a conflict of interest.
It has recently been pointed out, and confirmed that the groundwaters in the area of the rubblefill flow not only to the Sassafras but also to the Chester. Those who live on or near the Chester need to be VERY concerned also.
The rubblefill site is only yards away from Jacob’s Creek. Several environmental groups, in addition to the Sassafras and Chester River Associations, and State legislators have expressed opposition to the project, for the safety of the rivers and envoronmental health of citizens of Kent and those along the rivers in lower Cecil and Upper Queen Anne’s.
The commissioners appear to be oblivious to the concerns of the citizens who elected them, and whom they are supposed to serve.
Goltsman says
I live just a mile or so away from the proposed site. Since the gravel pit has been operational trucks have run through golts ro Delaware. This let’s them avoid the scales on 301 in both Maryland and Delaware. So for the past several years we have had to put up with dumptrucks speeding through town loaded up. This has helped destroy our already miserable roads, which can barely handle car traffic. If the approve this the county can plan on redoing all the local roads on the north end of the county. so any finacial benefit you think your going to get will be spent on roadways. And get the chance to pollute the sassafras river on too of everything else. Oh yeah and this jobs they say will come to the county, well the may very well live in Delaware or queen annes or anywhere other than Kent.
Joan Smith says
How wonderful that so many people showed up to express their horror at this proposal. There are many, many more of us who were not there, who agree wholeheartedly that the county should reject this out of hand. I have faith in the commissioners, who also live here and are stewards of this beautiful place, and who are surely smart enough to see through yet another developer’s empty blandishments.
Donna Cole says
What will happen once the rubble fill has meet its quota of debris it can hold ?I don’t know how long that will take, maybe 10yrs? So then what?People will be out of work , the revenue will be gone and will have 339 acres of land we can’t do anything with. Not to mention the potential harm the rubble fill could cause to the environment and the local residents. Which could end up costing the county more than just money . Why not look for businesses that will make a positive impact and will be here to stay.
kathleen says
The company has asked for exemptions from all environmental regulations for Forty years, so they must be planning on using the 404 acres for a long time, and probably have included some years for protection against future environmental law suits. They have offered to buy out 13 properties, as long as they are sold to them within the next four years( at a 2011 assessment price). Doesn’t the fact that they are requesting exemption from environmental regulations raise as big red flag for everyone?