Escambia Approves Temporary Concrete Crushing Permit For Cantonment Company

February 17, 2023

The Escambia County Commission Thursday unanimously approved a 14-day temporary concrete crushing permit at a Cantonment business.

Chavers Construction has applied for the permit for 14 consecutive working days on their property at 801 Virecent Road in Cantonment. Concrete material that has accumulated on the property over the last couple of years will be crushed on-site. The material will then be re-used as base material for Chavers’ own parking lot and road projects and not be sold or open to the public for sale.

The concrete will be crushed by Sunbelt Crushing between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday in a central location on the 18-acre property well behind the Chavers Construction office to minimize any outside impacts. The pile will be sprinkled with water during the operation to minimize any dust, and silt fencing will be used on all downhill slopes. The crushing location will not be visible from any road.

Two nearby residents addressed the commission Thursday morning in opposition to the permit issuance.

“You’ve got people out there on breathing apparatuses in the neighborhood, you’ve got children, you’ve got animals,” Ron Porter told the commission. “Chavers, if they do the type quality work as what their yard looks like…I don’t see how they in business.”

“They have not done the first thing that they promised the neighbors out there that they’d do,” Porter continued. “They’ve done come to us trying to bribe us; they’ve given us a load or so of asphalt for the road And they hadn’t done that. Their word ain’t worth the breath that’s spit out.”

“Y’all aint’ looking out for the citizens in the north end, not at all. You’re doing what’s lining y’all’s pockets,” he told commissioners.

“Not a dime of any of that money goes into any of our pockets,” Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said. “To say so was just ridiculous.”

Sharon Cummins told commissioners that the 18 acres is next to her property, and she’s concerned about noise and ill health effects in close proximity to Jim Allen Elementary School.

“There’s a bunch of elementary school aged children in developmental stages where that stuff, I don’t care how much water you think you are going to spray on it,” she said. “It spews in the air; it’s going to filter down on all of those children out playing at recess. It’s loud, noisy, and it’s just not going to work.”

“We are looking at a 14-day permit. It’s not a permanent or a regular activity that’s going to be on the property,” Commission Steven Barry said, noting that several nearby residents had expressed their support for the permit.

“It’s a temporary permit,” Bergosh reiterated. “I thought everybody loved recycling. We are taking concrete, and we are making products out of it that can be reutilized. I am in full support of it.”

County staff said the permit will be subject to requirements such as maximum wind speed and air quality standards, and county crews will monitor for off-site dust. If the standards are exceeded, the operation will be shut down.

NorthEscambia.com graphic/images, click to enlarge.

Comments

10 Responses to “Escambia Approves Temporary Concrete Crushing Permit For Cantonment Company”

  1. J on February 21st, 2023 3:33 am

    You would not like it if it was 200 foot from you.theres a place for that kind business not in a nieghborhood.

  2. Neighbor on February 20th, 2023 10:09 pm

    Seriously a few people worried about 14 days of crushing concrete? What about all the pollutants in your air from the paper mill a mile or less away? The years and years of all the crap it has put out has got to be much worse than this. Glad to see BOCC allowing it to be recycled.

  3. David Huie Green on February 20th, 2023 1:26 pm

    REGARDING:
    “What about osha’s requirements”

    See for yourself and let us know if you find anything they would be violating:

    https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3935.pdf

    AND:
    “Exposure to silica dust can lead to the development of lung cancer, silicosis (an irreversible scarring and stiffening of the lungs), kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is estimated that 230 people develop lung cancer each year as a result of past exposure to silica dust at work or in communities.”

    All of which is true. Just beside the point. As the British NHS points out in https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/silicosis/ it takes a while and a lot of dust. This is not something likely to be experienced from distant, short-term (14-day permit) exposure to wet dust.

    “Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years.”

    “Silicosis usually develops after being exposed to silica for 10-20 years, although it can sometimes develop after 5-10 years of exposure. Occasionally, it can occur after only a few months of very heavy exposure.”

    If they didn’t wet it down, “Silica Dust will float in the air for up to 12 days, give or take” could be a trace of a problem if there was no breeze at all, but I see Cantonment is experiencing 12 miles per hour winds right now, so 12 days could shove it off to people 4,032 miles away. Which reminds me, it is not uncommon for the Saraha Desert dust storms to reach South America. Maybe we could get in on the action (this would almost reach Africa) other than the fact they are supposed to wet it down and it would be mighty dilute by that time.

    David for silica-free beaches

  4. J on February 20th, 2023 8:59 am

    What about osha’s requirements

  5. R on February 20th, 2023 7:12 am

    Before you vote on something you should look at facts or requirements of what ever it is

  6. Tax Paying Voter on February 18th, 2023 9:12 am

    This should never have been allowed to PILE up until it takes 14 days to clear it up. Also, I’ve worked in a business that had a plumbing issue where the concrete floor had to be broken up to get to the problem. Until you’ve actually witnessed what that creates, you should never be so smug about it. The store had to take several precautions to protect the public from the dust. The arrogant response by Barry, well, wonder how he would feel if it was his neighborhood.
    It is Not anywhere near my neighborhood, but I know what kind of dust this will create – from experience- and I am concerned for the people that live near this mess.

  7. straightshooter on February 18th, 2023 7:38 am

    I have property close to this site. I have no concerns with it. They should keep it sprinkled during the crushing of it. Glad county had some smarts this time.

  8. yellarhammer on February 17th, 2023 11:49 pm

    It’s called recycling good deed for good job.

  9. Lou on February 17th, 2023 3:53 pm

    Thank you ECC, for being business friendly to a company trying to improve their work site. Other businesses see your approval , and might bring needed revenue and jobs to our County.

  10. Gloria G Horning PhD on February 17th, 2023 1:01 pm

    Exposure to silica dust can lead to the development of lung cancer, silicosis (an irreversible scarring and stiffening of the lungs), kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is estimated that 230 people develop lung cancer each year as a result of past exposure to silica dust at work or in communities.
    https://www.cancer.org.au › silica-d…
    Silica dust – Cancer Council
    Crystalline silica dust degrades plant surfaces (usually leaves), soil microbes, and other small organisms like insects and worms. It also affects plant growth by reducing photosynthesis, promoting plant disease, and inhibiting growth.
    Silica Dust will float in the air for up to 12 days, give or take. The particles are very tiny. One spec of silica dust is almost 100 times smaller than a single grain of sand. Due to its size, silica dust stays suspended in the air for longer than other types of dust particles.
    Additionally, the county’s record on monitoring landfills and concrete crushing sites are dismal. #wedgewood

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News