Apparently, the quarry company feels it needs a fair opportunity to address the legitimate concerns of Putnam residents, which quarry co-owner Hans Dawson called baseless accusations. He claims they intend to explain in detail what they do, how they do it, and why residents are protected.
Yet, Mr. Dawson answers none of these questions in the full-page article he sent to last week’s Eatonton Messenger ( The Eatonton Messenger, A8, Apr. 9, 2026). What are the advances in technology he mentions?
What are the smart regulations he mentions? Who puts the regulations in place? The county or the mine operators? More importantly, how can regulations be enforced and by whom?
The fact is that when zoning is changed, Putnam County doesn’t have the means to regulate mining operations, air and water quality, or control traffic coming to and from the mine.
Mr. Dawson claims the mine will be a great tax-paying neighbor. Putnam Stone is leasing the land they intend to mine from the forest company that owns the land. Putnam Stone is not paying property taxes.
Mr. Dawson calls the opponents of the mine “transplants.” It’s true that many residents were not born here but have chosen to live in Eatonton and Lake Country.
However, all who live here are taxpayers. It seems like Lannon Stone, a.k.a. Putnam Stone, is the transplant here.
Mr. Dawson has had every opportunity to share the truth about quarrying. Opponents of the quarry are not spreading tales, as Mr. Dawson said. Talking about concerns that the company cannot satisfactorily answer is not spreading tales. Citizens have been researching and finding facts about the real and potential dangers of a granite mine in the proposed location. When asked at the information meetings about guarantees of damage, water, and air quality, company representatives said they could make no guarantees.
Mr. Dawson states that change is inevitable, but Putnam citizens have the right to choose what change they want. Mr. Dawson calls the granite mine and rock crushing operation a low-impact industry. How can a quarry be considered “low-impact” with numbers of dump trucks adding to traffic and damaging roads?
Dust from crushing the granite releases known carcinogens to blow everywhere the wind takes them: to Eatonton, Lake Sinclair, and Lake Oconee. Quarry mining is known to damage wells, too.
Since Lannon Stone is a Limited Liability Corporation, as is Putnam Stone, the county or citizens can’t effectively sue for damages. In Wisconsin, home of Lannon Stone, parties whose wells have been damaged by mining operations are suing the insurance company to collect for damages.
When Mr. Dawson claims to pledge to meet every possible concern with the greatest respect, expertise, and transparency, that sounds nice. But what does that really mean? What transparency have they shown?
Again, once zoning is changed, only the company has control over the amount of land mined and production quotas, and they monitor themselves for air and water quality, as well as damage to adjoining streams, wells, and wetlands.
They are accountable to no one else. Any conditions or restrictions the county might impose are not enforceable because the county lacks the budget or manpower to monitor mining operations.
The proposed mine site is too close to our water supply, to the City of Eatonton, Lake Sinclair, and Lake Oconee. Georgia Power pumps water between them to generate hydroelectric power. What affects one lake affects both, and therefore, the city and the whole county are affected, as Lake Sinclair is the water source for all. As citizens, we have confidence in our elected and appointed officials to do no harm to Putnam County.
People are smart enough to decide on development and change, which benefits all without the inherent risks of a granite mine in the proposed location.
Dan Kelhoffer, Putnam County taxpayer and transplant since 2000