Putnam County is growing, and it’s easy to see why — this community is an attractive place to live, work, and enjoy a high quality of life.
Residents have recently come together through town hall meetings to discuss the county’s future and consider potential updates to local ordinances, reflecting a shared commitment to thoughtful, community-guided planning.
The proposed Putnam County Stone project on Dennis Station Road is designed to support those community priorities in a responsible, locally focused way.
As a privately owned operator, Putnam County Stone plans to produce construction aggregates, such as crushed stone, which are essential for construction and infrastructure maintenance. Because these materials are heavy and costly to transport, using a local source reduces road maintenance costs, improves affordability for housing projects, and keeps local tax dollars within Putnam County rather than being spent on hauling materials from other counties.
The economic benefits are equally meaningful. The project will create good-paying jobs in the community and new opportunities for local contractors and service providers. It will also strengthen Putnam County’s tax base by supporting schools, public safety, and essential county services. Importantly, the project requires no government subsidies, meaning taxpayers assume no financial burden.
Local aggregate also provides a practical environmental benefit: it can be used along lake shores to strengthen banks and reduce erosion, thereby protecting property, water quality, and the natural character of lake communities.
The operation has been designed with careful consideration for the community's traditional character. The proposed project, located on a 918-acre industrial timber site, will limit mining activities to roughly 90 acres over the entire life of the operation, or less than 10% of the total site. Mining will progress gradually at only two to three acres per year.
The property layout allows for substantial setbacks, placing the extraction and processing areas far from nearby homes and shielded from roads.
Rainwater captured and recycled on-site will supply the vast majority of on-site water. Reclamation will occur simultaneously with operations to keep the property visually buffered and consistent with the county’s rural character. Truck traffic will use existing industrial routes already established by the nearby lumber mill, and traffic analyses indicate no measurable impact on wait times or roadway performance.
To help residents learn more, ask questions, and see the science behind modern, regulated mining operations, Putnam County Stone has scheduled a community open house. We invite all Putnam County residents to attend, meet the project team, review environmental protections, and engage directly with the experts.
Please join us Feb. 12, any time between noon and 6:30 p.m. at The Plaza Arts Center, 305 N. Madison Ave., Eatonton. We look forward to listening to your thoughts, answering questions, and working together to ensure this project contributes positively to Putnam County’s future.
Hans Dawson, owner of Putnam County Stone