Rutland residents voice concerns over upcoming blasting at quarry


Cole Anderson. Submitted Photo.

By APRIL KELLEY
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors continue to deal with the Rutland Quarry during their regular meeting on Monday, July 22. Rutland resident Mary Catherine Ferry informed the board that some of the residents of Rutland have received a letter or a text message from Cole Anderson, owner of the Rutland Quarry. Both forms of communication stated that Anderson would begin blasting Thursday, July 25 and was offering to have the landowner’s home inspected.

The form letter reads:
"In an effort to make things go as smoothly as possible, Anderson Aggregates, LLC offers a pre-blast inspection on your structure(s) prior to blasting operation that need to be conducted for the operation of Rutland quarry located south of Rutland, Iowa.A pre-blast inspection should take no longer than 45 minutes and consists of a few pictures with documentation of any existing structural cracks and/or abnormalities. Vibra Tech, an independent organization that specializes in this process, will be conducting the pre-blast inspection.Please contact me at (515)890-1743 so I may collect information to get the pre-blast inspection process started as well as answer any questions or concerns you may have." The letter was signed by Cole Anderson.
The text given to the supervisors was sent to Ferry and reads:
Anderson: I am just letting you know the people that will inspect homes will be here on Wednesday, 07/24. If you would like to include your home, please let me know by Monday. We will be blasting on Thursday. Thank you!
Ferry: How can you blast? You don’t have a permit?
Anderson: I have everything I need.
Ferry: But you don’t have a permit. ?? (sic)
Anderson: Do you want the inspection or not. (sic)
Ferry: We will give you our response about getting an inspection when you provide us proof of a permit to blast.

Deb Davis, a concerned citizen, questioned how they could photograph 119 homes (the number of homes in Rutland) in one day.
An unidentified zoom participant stated “We don’t have to offer to 119 homes. We don’t have to offer anybody inspections. We are choosing to offer you inspections.”
There was no comment when asked for clarification on who the participant was.
Read the full story in this weeks issue of the Humboldt Independent.

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