Council approves gutted amendment

The Woodstock City Council endured 2 1/2 hours of discussion, comments, and decision-making before approving the remains of a proposed amendment to the gravel pit ordinance for Merryman Aggregates at its meeting tonight.

Why do I say "gutted"?

In December the Plan Commission, a body of public-minded residents, spent three hours hashing over the problems at the gravel pit on U.S. 14 just east of town. Residents have been complaining about violations of the Conditions and finally got the City's attention. The Plan Commission worked up a long set of amendments, most of which were unpopular with Merryman Aggregates, the operator of the gravel pit.

The Council was all set to discuss and vote on the amendments at its January 18th meeting, but Merryman asked for a delay just hours before the meeting time.

Now, pay attention to what happened next, which radically altered the amendment on which the Council was to consider tonight.

On January 20 Mayor Sager, City employee Jim Kastner and City Attorney Rich Flood met with Rich Zirk, project manager for Merryman.

In tonight's amendment to the original Special Use Permit, the enforcement provisions recommended by the Plan Commission were nowhere in sight. The City's original plan to protect the water quality was shoved aside. The City bowed to Merryman on relocating the pit entrance to an extension of Doty Road, which would have relieved congestion and traffic violations on U.S. 14 at Lily Pond Road.

As the vote neared, I guessed it would be 6-0. Another resident in the room guessed 5-1. The vote? 4-2 (Councilman Mark Saladin recused himself, because he is a member of the law firm that represented Merryman in its original application, although his firm does not now represent Merryman.)

If one other member had voted Nay, the vote would have been 3-3, and the amendment would not have passed. Thanks to Julie Dillon and Dick Ahrens for standing against the tide.