At its September 29 meeting, the Sweden Town Board approved the Iroquois Rock excavation permit for a six-month period expiring March 29, 2022. The town usually grants the permit for a three-year period but due to concerns raised at two public hearings this summer, the board granted the shorter permit to be able to monitor the areas of concern more closely.
Actions the board has taken to address residents’ concerns include: sent a letter to trucking firms that use the quarry reminding them of speed and weight limits on adjoining roads, the letter will continue to be sent out with Iroquois Rock’s invoices; requested additional patrols from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and NYS Police; ordered a radar device that will be used to gather information about speeding and truck sizes on adjoining roads; and filed a request with Monroe County for a lower speed limit on a portion of Sweden Walker Road.
Some of the complaints have centered around blasting, however the Town of Sweden does not regulate blasting. Blasting operations are regulated by the NYS Department of Conservation. Despite the lack of regulatory authority, Supervisor Kevin Johnson spent three hours at the quarry on September 21 observing blasting and other plant activities. Councilpersons Gary Sullivan and Randy Hoke have been in regular contact with law enforcement agencies and Sullivan has met with residents at their homes to observe truck traffic.
Prior to granting a new excavation permit in 2022, the Town Board will hold another public hearing, date to be determined.
Provided information
