Pit & Quarry: Georgia

For the second time, the Hall County Board of Commissioners postponed a decision to extend operating hours for a South Hall quarry, disappointing some 30 residents who showed up to protest. LaFarge Aggregates Southeast Inc., which owns the quarry bordered by Friendship and Blackjack roads, requested the commission table its request to allow more time to address residents' concerns. The commission voted 3-0 to postpone the public hearing. The quarry's request will be on a later agenda. Area residents, many of whom said they left work early to attend the 5 p.m. meeting, were not happy with the decision. Some residents said the postponement was a ploy by LaFarge to get rid of its opponents. In early December, the county planning board voted 4-0 to deny LaFarge's request to eliminate conditions of a previous zoning that limited hours of operation. Under conditions established in 1989, the quarry may operate from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday from March through October, and 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., November through February. The company estimated a loss of $500,000 in 2004 because it is not allowed to operate at night, when most Department of Transportation work is done. LaFarge has amended its request for 24-7 operations only when necessary to fulfill government contracts for weekend and nighttime paving. Blasting still would be restricted to the current hours. The quarry also has agreed to submit all nighttime contracts and anticipated scheduling to the county planning department as part of the zoning conditions, reports the Gainesville Times News.