A tense and frequently emotional meeting of the Putnam County Planning & Zoning Commission reached its peak on May 8 when former county chairman and current District 3 Commissioner Stephen Hersey suggested to P&Z Commission Chairman Charles Gray, “Let’s take this out to the parking lot.”
Fortunately, Gray — a fellow senior citizen — did not take up Hersey’s challenge, choosing instead to continue the meeting without further escalation. No new action was taken to delay a controversial rock quarry rezoning hearing, leaving the matter scheduled for July 2 at 6:30 p.m., though the hearing location has not yet been finalized.
Last Friday’s meeting stemmed from an equally emotional March 8 P&Z meeting, during which commissioners postponed the hearing at the request of Wisconsin-based Putnam County Stone. The company sought additional time to make major revisions to the scope of its proposed quarry project near Dennis Station Road in Putnam County’s District 4.
Gray and the rest of the commission approved that request and rescheduled the hearing for July 2, the commission’s next regular meeting date. The decision immediately sparked outrage among residents packed into the meeting room, many of whom accused both the quarry company and the commission of deliberately selecting a date just before the Independence Day holiday weekend — one made even more significant by the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration — in an attempt to suppress public participation.
Gray later acknowledged he regretted setting July 2 as a meeting date, saying he had not considered its proximity to the holiday when future meeting dates were established long before the quarry proposal became a local issue.
Regardless, last week’s meeting was intended to give residents a final opportunity to weigh in on whether the hearing date should remain unchanged or be moved to allow greater public participation.
Throughout the evening, Gray repeatedly reminded attendees that the meeting was not intended to debate the merits of the quarry project itself. However, many comments drifted into broader frustrations surrounding the proposal.
Putnam County Attorney Adam Nelson opened the discussion by reading a letter from attorney Bill Larson, who represents the quarry's opponents. In the letter, Larson stated that while opponents had originally objected to the July 2 hearing date, they no longer wished to delay the process.
“My clients have become resigned to that date,” Larson wrote, adding that opponents wanted “to get this decided and behind us as soon as possible.”
That statement framed much of the evening’s public comment, with nearly every resident who signed up to speak urging commissioners to leave the date unchanged.
Sharon Callahan accused officials of appearing to favor the quarry company.
“Leave the date alone. Keep the date of July 2,” Callahan said. “We’re ready to be heard. You can’t intimidate us. You can’t change our minds, and we won’t back down, no matter what date you choose.”
Janet Kelhoffer argued the rezoning process had already strayed from normal procedures after quarry representatives were allowed to revise their application following the March 5 meeting.
“The decision to let the applicant delay the hearing rather than withdraw and file again is a departure from standard operating procedures of this commission,” Kelhoffer said.
Attorney Jay Dell, representing the quarry developers, said the company was “about 70% done” revising its proposal and expected to submit final revisions by the end of May. He added the company would accept either the July 2 hearing date or a later date.
“We’re good either way,” Dell said.
That prompted Hersey to question why the matter had even been placed on the agenda since the quarry company itself was not requesting another delay.
“As Mr. Dell has said, the stone company doesn’t object to it,” Hersey said. “Why is it on the agenda to change the date? It’s a mystery to me.”
The exchange escalated when Gray responded by referencing Hersey’s legislative background in California. That’s when Hersey suggested they “visit the parking lot” before returning to his seat.
Gray and Hersey are currently opponents in the Republican primary race for county chairman, a position being vacated by retiring Chairman Bill Sharp.
Several residents noted they had already rearranged vacation and holiday plans around the July 2 hearing date and opposed any further postponements. Tina Newman described the ongoing controversy as “extremely stressful” and urged officials not to “push it down the road.”
Billy Webster, another outspoken quarry opponent and former county commission chairman, criticized the commission for reconsidering a date it had already approved.
“If that date wasn’t insulting enough,” Webster said, “tonight you are entertaining the notion to change the hearing date after literally scores of us have changed our Fourth of July plans to be here.”
Ultimately, no commissioner moved to change the hearing date. Without a motion on the floor, no vote was required, and the July 2 hearing remains scheduled by default.
The commission also briefly discussed moving the hearing to a larger venue to accommodate what is expected to be another overflow crowd. Nelson said the county code requires Planning & Zoning meetings to be held in county-owned or leased facilities, meaning any venue change would need approval from the Putnam County Board of Commissioners.
Possible alternative locations mentioned included the Putnam County Recreation Department gymnasium or another large public facility if permission could be secured.
Gray adjourned the meeting shortly afterward, with the quarry debate set to resume on July 2 as originally scheduled.