By Jim Cook Jr. / The News of Cumberland County
Staff photo by Cathy Cramer A proposed asphalt plant would be built near Menantico Wildlife Management Area in Millville.
MILLVILLE — The commission chamber at City Hall in Millville will be packed to capacity this coming Tuesday night.
Guaranteed.
The second reading of the asphalt plant ordinance will be heard at the meeting and the public will be allowed to comment.
And the majority, if not all residents comments, are not happy having an asphalt plant in their backyard.
Guaranteed.
On the first day of the month, when the ordinance was first read, the public showed up and unanimously opposed the idea.
Concerns raised included the emissions of the plant that could put formaldehyde, hexane, phenol, polycyclic organic matter and toulene in the air that residents in Edgewood Acres area breathe, and taint the clean waters of the Menantico Wildlife Management Area.
“The last meeting was really impressive,” said Matthew Blake, manager of the American Littoral Society, which informs the public on environmental issues in local communities.
Blake also raised the concern that there is no cap to the amount of asphalt plants allowed in the ordinance.
“The ordinance could allow multiple plants. Just because it’s permitted, doesn’t mean the public is safe.”
Commission of Public Affairs Jim Quinn was the only commissioner publicly against the plant as of the March 1 meeting.
He was scheduled to travel to Boston on Tuesday morning to attend a conference in Boston on improving housing authority.
Instead of traveling by train with Kim Ayers, city planning director , on Tuesday morning, Quinn said he purchased his own plane ticket out-of-pocket for Wednesday because he did not want to miss this meeting.
“For this meeting, I feel that it’s important that I be there to listen to the residents and represent their rights,” the commissioner said.
The public interest is growing.
Edgewood Acres area residents are now petitioning, led by Donna Miles who spoke at the last meeting.
At the first commission meeting where the ordinance was read, Miles, a 25 year resident of Millville said that bringing this plant to the city would be offensive to the residents nearby, like herself.
“Everyone in Millville has either been here for a long time, or their new and have been here expecting the area we live in to stay nice, as it is,” Miles said at the meeting.
Mandie Dawson, a 25-year-old nursing student at Richard Stockton College with Miles.
She said that she knew little about the asphalt plant earlier in the month, but has since networked with Miles and learned about the dangers the could ensue.
“I was a little late on learning about the proposal, but I’m glad I know now,” Dawson said.
“My mother is an asthmatic and it would be harmful if this went in,” Dawson said. “We’ve been enduring the construction that has been going on too. Our area keeps getting more and more beat up.”
Probably the most gripping story, however, is that of resident Janet Edwards.
Edwards lives on Shamrock Lane in Millville and found out that she had Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in the fall of 2009.
Her story details the various painful screw-like injections she endured during 4 bone marrow tests, not to mention the many blood transfusions.
Edwards’ story will be released in her letter to the editor in The News on Monday, March 14.
She may be forced out of Millville due to her condition if the asphalt plant passes, based on her now-delicate immune system.
Blake, Miles and Edward, as well as many other are urging the public to attend the commission meeting to oppose the plant.
The plant is proposed 3,500 feet away from Edgewood acres, and is also in close proximity to Menantico ponds and Holly Heights School.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment