Public meeting set for concrete plant

By Phil Major
publisher@wood.cm
Posted 4/8/21

A public meeting for the air quality permit sought by Bell Concrete for a batch plant near the Mineola Nature Preserve has been set for May 4.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality set the hearing after receiving requests from State Rep. Cole Hefner and hundreds of residents, objecting to the planned location of the plant at Loop 564 and County Road 2724.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Public meeting set for concrete plant

Posted

A public meeting for the air quality permit sought by Bell Concrete for a batch plant near the Mineola Nature Preserve has been set for May 4.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality set the hearing after receiving requests from State Rep. Cole Hefner and hundreds of residents, objecting to the planned location of the plant at Loop 564 and County Road 2724.

The county road, which leads south and east from the loop just southeast of Mineola, accesses the nature preserve’s main entrance. The planned location, on the southeast corner of the intersection, is across the road from a section of the preserve, as well as other city property. But it is not within the city limits and does not connect to the city, separated by the county road.

Bell Concrete published its required public notice for the air quality permit in the Wood County Monitor on March 4, which led numerous citizens to offer protests to the plant’s location. In addition to three previous letters to the editor, three more appear in this week’s edition. (See Page 10A)

Concerned citizens held a gathering at the preserve on Saturday to discuss protesting the planned facility.

One, Mary Williams, has also created a website for those wanting more information.

See preservemineola.com.

The TCEQ public meeting will be held virtually at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4.

According to the meeting notice, “Members of the public who would like to ask questions or provide comments during the meeting may access the meeting via webcast by following this link: https://www.gotomeeting.com/webinar/join-webinar and entering Webinar ID 797-520-027. It is recommended that you join the webinar and register for the public meeting at least 15 minutes before the meeting begins. You will be given the option to use your computer audio or to use your phone for participating in the webinar. Those without internet access may call (512) 239-1201 at least one day prior to the meeting for assistance in accessing the meeting and participating telephonically. Members of the public who wish to only listen to the meeting may call, toll free, (562) 247-8422 and enter access code 566-102-024.”

As of Tuesday morning the TCEQ had fielded more than 266 comments on its website concerning the batch plant.

City and county officials have been trying to work with Bell Concrete to find another location, but a planned meeting last Wednesday was postponed and has not been rescheduled.

Mineola City Manager Mercy Rushing said the city was contacted by a company last year about property south of Mineola on Hwy. 69, and the property going to the nature preserve was not discussed. She was not told the specific type of business nor the name of the business.

When she looked up the name of the person on the internet, it came up as a construction company in Paris, Texas, and not Bell Concrete.

The city did not hear back concerning any property until the notification of the air quality permit, she said.

According to the meeting notice, “The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application. A public meeting will be held and will consist of two parts, an Informal Discussion Period and a Formal Comment Period. A public meeting is not a contested case hearing under the Administrative Procedure Act. During the Informal Discussion Period, the public will be encouraged to ask questions of the applicant and TCEQ staff concerning the permit application. The comments and questions submitted orally during the Informal Discussion Period will not be considered before a decision is reached on the permit application, and no formal response will be made. Responses will be provided orally during the Informal Discussion Period. During the Formal Comment Period on the permit application, members of the public may state their formal comments orally into the official record. At the conclusion of the comment period, all formal comments will be considered before a decision is reached on the permit application. A written response to all formal comments will be prepared by the executive director and will be sent to each person who submits a formal comment or who requested to be on the mailing list for this permit application and provides a mailing address. Only relevant and material issues raised during the Formal Comment Period can be considered if a contested case hearing is granted on this permit application.”