As public opposition to a proposed granite quarry along Dennis Station Road continues to grow, Putnam County officials are racing against a tight deadline to secure a larger venue for upcoming public hearings expected to draw hundreds of residents.
During the May 19 meeting of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners, board members unanimously directed county staff to investigate alternative locations that can accommodate more than 300 attendees for both the July 2 Planning and Zoning (P&Z) hearing on the controversial quarry rezoning request and the July 21 Board of Commissioners hearing.
The discussion followed comments from residents who argued the county administration building is inadequate for a matter that has generated unprecedented public interest.
Miriam Hatcher, an outspoken opponent of the quarry project, reminded commissioners that the March 5 P&Z meeting drew one of the largest crowds in recent county history, with residents filling the meeting room to capacity and others turned away due to fire code restrictions.
“You don’t get crowds like that unless people are deeply concerned,” Hatcher said. “You can’t squeeze this level of concern into a room this size and call it public participation.”
Hatcher said opposition to the proposal has only intensified since the hearing was postponed at the request of the applicant, Putnam County Stone LLC of Wisconsin.
“This quarry application is one of the biggest issues ever to face the county, and it has struck a nerve,” she said. “The issue is too big and too important and affects too many families. Folks simply want to be heard.”
District 3 Commissioner Steve Hersey agreed, describing the quarry proposal as one of the most consequential issues facing the county. He also suggested livestreaming the proceedings and broadcasting them into overflow areas if a larger venue cannot be secured.
“This is not a one-off issue. It is critically important to Putnam County to get this right,” Hersey said. “If we ever have a called meeting for a specific issue, this is the one to do it for. The quarry issue is so important to the public that it ought to be a standalone agenda item.”
Questions quickly arose about where such meetings could legally be held.
Hersey agreed the county’s current meeting space, which accommodates approximately 190 people, is inadequate for the expected turnout. He suggested only a handful of locations in the county could comfortably accommodate more than 300 attendees.
District 2 Commissioner Richard Garrett noted county zoning ordinances may require P&Z meetings to be held on county-owned or county-leased property. However, County Attorney Adam Nelson said alternative facilities could be used if the county formally obtained rights to the property through an agreement.
“The way I read the ordinance, when it says county, it means county board of commissioners,” Nelson said. “If you establish the rights to use the space, you could do that.”
Facilities at Putnam County High School were mentioned as a possible venue, as was the county Recreation Department gymnasium, which is county-owned and would avoid some of the legal hurdles associated with using school property. Also discussed was The Plaza Arts Center in downtown Eatonton, which can accommodate approximately 500 people.
Regardless of the location, county officials warned a decision must be made quickly. Nelson said public notice requirements leave little time to finalize a venue.
The quarry proposal has been a source of controversy for months, with opponents citing concerns about compatibility with the county’s comprehensive plan, potential environmental impacts, and quality-of-life issues. Supporters and opponents alike are expected to attend the upcoming hearings, making venue selection a critical step in ensuring the public has an opportunity to participate in the process.