University Daily Kansan, April 28, 1983
Page 13
Commission votes down quarry permit
By NED STAFFORD Staff Reporter
The Douglas County Commission yesterday denied a conditional use permit for the operation of a rock quarry six miles south of Lawrence, months of lobstering by supporters and opponents of the proposed quarry.
Robert Bigsby had applied to operate the quarry on his dairy farm and had received favorable recommendations for the permit from both the city-county planning staff and the Douglas County Planning Commission.
The County Commission, however,
voted 3-0 on a motion by Commissioner
Beverly Bradley to deny issuing the
permit, which would have allowed
Bigsby to operate the quarry.
BIGSBY SAID YESTERDAY THAT there were no quarks in the area and that a quark at the site could provide rock for improving roads in the area.
He also said that the county could save money by not having to haul rock long distances to some parts of the county.
"They are just playing politics," Bigsby said. "I just thought we had more freedom in this country. It sure as hell isn't a free country any longer when I have a product here I can't sell."
The commission issued a 10-page
statement defending its decision to deny the permit.
The commission concluded that trucks used to haul rock from the quarry would cause dust and traffic safety problems. The commission also noted the potential for damage to surrounding houses from blasting and for decreased property values near the quarry. Roads near the site also would have to be improved, the commissioners said.
THE COMMISSION'S LEGAL counselor, Dan Young, said he drew up the statement after conferring individually with each commissioner.
He said the statement was a composition of the concerns of the commissioners.
ne of the concerns of the commissioners. The County Commission considered testimony it received at a public hearing March 30 in preparing the
Opponents and supporters of the proposed quarry spoke at the March hearing, which lasted almost five hours. Both sides were represented by
The hearing came after the planning commission voted 8-2 in February to recommend approval of the permit if a finding was made on evidence of the quarry were met by Bigsby.
Those conditions included restricting the hours of operation to between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and improving the roads in which they were paid for most of the improvements.
BEFORE YESTERDAY'S VOTE,
Bob Reis, commission chairman, asked
the other commissioners whether they wanted to comment on the quarry proposal, saying that because of the time difference, the commission discussed the proposal with each other.
After the commissioners voted and the commission meeting room had cleared, Bigsby and his son approached the commissioner for dissatisfaction with the ommit denial.
"I can't believe that I own six million tons of rock and that three people can stop me from quarrying it," Bigsby told the commissioners.
Neis told Bigsbay that he did not think the roads were wide enough to accommodate the trucks that would be used to haul rock from the quarry.
After several minutes of debate Bradley told bigSby, "Honey, you don't want to talk to us, you want to argue with us."
"Sure I do." Bigsby said.
BIGSBY SAID LATER THAT arguing with the commissioners seemed to be
"It appeared to me they didn't want to see my side of the story," he said.
Bigsey said that a petition with more than 175 signatures protesting the quarry was signed by some people who had moved into the area from the city.
"There are a few old farmers who signed against the quarry," Bigsby said. "But it was the suburbanites who stirred them up."
Bigsby said he was considering appealing the commission's decision to Douglas County District Court, and
Neis said after the meeting that he had lived near a rock quarry when he was younger and seen what trucks and buildings could do to the surrounding area.
added, "We are thinking very strongly of putting in a large host operation."
HE SAID THAT A QUARRY might have saved some money for townships in the area and the county, but he said that they hadn't been near the site could have been damaged
In response to Bigsby's assertion that the commission was playing politics, Neus said, "We go by what we think is right. There are no politics added."
Price Banks, director of the city-county planning staff, said after the meeting that he would stand by the recommendation to approve the permit.
appropriate.
"I don't think it would adversely impact the environment if all the conditions were met," he said.
He said, however, that the County Commission had more to consider in making the decision than the planning staff.
Banks said that property values could decline if a quarry were built, but said that was a risk that people moving into an agriculturally zoned area faced.
HE SAID THAT QUARRIES, as well as noisy equipment and hog farms, were approved uses in an area zoned for agriculture.
All-Sports ticket sales slow; promotion planned for fall
By ANDREW HARTLEY Staff Reporter
Spring All-Sports ticket sales this year were sluggish, but the athletic department was not concerned by the low sales, the ticket manager
Tom Hof, ticket manager, said that only 60 All-Sports tickets were purchased during the two-day sale. Tickets were sold at three locations on campus — Wescos and Green halls and the Kansas Union — yesterday and Tuesday. Thirty tickets were sold each day. Hof said.
An All-Sports ticket costs $45 and includes all home football and basketball games and the Kansas Relays.
STORMY WEATHER FORCED the cancellation of part of yesterday's sale.
"The rain caused us to pull out in one location," Hof said. "Plus the traffic really slowed on campus. The first few hours were really good."
Mike Hamrick, administrative assistant to the athletic director, said, "The ticket sales were OK because of time and money." *krewe wk put into it.*
About a month ago, the Student Sports Council, which recommends promotions for the department,
needed not to push ticket sales this spring because members thought students would not have the money to buy an A-Sport's ticket.
LAST SPRING, THE FIRST year for spring ticket sales, the athletic department. Sold 177 All-Sports tickets. However, tickets were sold for three days, promotions included free T-shirts for the first 1,000 buyers and more advertising was used.
"I don't think the low sales are any indication of the interest in the teams," Hot said. "We had a lot of inquiries at the hotels, but nobody really had the money. I think the interest in athletics is there."
Student ticket sales will resume in the fall. The sports council tentatively has scheduled a second round of football staff visits to living groups. Students will be able to purchase tickets at living groups, the box office at Allen Field House and during enrollment.
THE TICKET OFFICE HAS arranged for an option card to be enclosed with registration material and a one-check note. One check for tuition and tickets.
The University of Kansas presents
The Fifth Annual Byron T. Shutz Award Lecture
"The Changing Role of Government in Western Economies"
by Joseph M. Sicilian Associate Professor of Economics
8:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 28, 1983
Alderson Auditorium/Kansas Union
A public reception will follow the lecture
The Annual Byron T. Shruz Award is intended to stimulate distinguished teaching in the fields of economics and business and is designed specifically to acknowledge superior teaching about the strengths and weaknesses advantages and disadvantages of the American economic system. We hope that you will be able to join us.
TONIGHT AT 7:30
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THURSDAY—7:30
FRI/SAT—2:30, 7:30
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