Opponents look to crush rock quarry plans in Sumner County

Click here for video.   A second video includes a short segment shown on 5pm news prior to the meeting.

WKRN News Channel 2
July 14, 2011

 SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. – Residents, neighbors, and historical associations in Sumner County are fighting to keep a rock quarry from breaking ground on a section of Hwy 25 in Castalian Springs.

Voting at a Thursday meeting could start the process of getting the quarry up and running.  Nearby residents are fuming, and plan to do everything in their power to stop it.

According to John Simmons, a resident in the community, "My home value is going to go down to practically nothing.  Can they say something to placate me on that?  No."

In May, Hoover Incorporated purchased more than three hundred acres in the community east of Gallatin for the quarry; that land, is close to multiple historic attractions.

The Wynnewood Mansion, Cragfont Estates, and the Ancient Native American Burial Grounds are all located near the site, which caused historical associations to get involved in the battle.

Sumner County Residents Oppose Rock Quarry

[ VIDEO Here ]

By Jamey Tucker and Tiani Jones

WKRN – News Channel 2

CASTALIAN SPRINGS, Tenn. – Castalian Springs residences met with county leaders on Thursday night to express their concerns about a proposed rock quarry.

Homeowner John Simmons is just one of the residents that is against the idea of opening a rock quarry in the community.

He told Nashville's News 2 he was surprised to learn about the proposed plans.

"I could not believe it. There is no place that you could find that is less suited for this quarry," Simmons said.

In an effort to prevent the quarry from moving into the area, residents have collected hundreds of signatures and formed the "Save Castalian Springs" group.