TRR photo by David Hulse (Click for larger image)

Neighbors complaints about quarry continue

LACKAWAXEN — Bohemia resident Rudy Wassner, standing, is pictured questioning Lackawaxen supervisors Brian Stuart, left, and John McKay August 21 as Wassner questioned the use of town roads and the quarry’s operating hours.

Neighbors of the quarry, owned by Leeward Construction of Honesdale, have for months been complaining about truck traffic on the town’s Blue Eddy Road, which is an arterial for State Rt. 590.

Wassner contended that since the quarry is partially located on the Huggy Bear development, the trucks should use the development road, Rheingold Boulevard.

Wassner cited the conditional zoning use permit’s limitation of material removal to hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. “They’re working weekends,” he charged. “[The supervisors] are letting it happen,” he said.

Lacking legal counsel last week, the supervisors were hesitant about responding to Wassner’s concerns.

McKay said the language of the permit was not intended to “leave the township silent” on weekend operations at the quarry. But Leeward’s interpretation is that they can load and ship on the weekend; they just can’t blast,” McKay said.

Leeward has not remained mute either. The company asked for and received PennDOT’s review of intersection safety at the Blue Eddy/Rt. 590 intersection. PennDOT called on the township to remove several trees obstructing the view of eastbound traffic. The trees are on the property of Paul Kowalczyk, one of Leeward’s more vocal critics.

The company has also written the town reporting a clean bill of safety health for its truck fleet, which recently underwent a spot check by state police, at the request of the township.