Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/708570
by Therese Dunphy | Editor-in-Chief tdunphy@randallreilly.com 8 AGGREGATES MANAGER / August 2016 To keep up to date with news from the United States and Canada, visit www.AggMan.com for daily updates. STATE & PROVINCE NEWS ILLINOIS A Geneva man who was convicted in a fatal crash into a Naperville Quarry died after he was found unresponsive in the Waubonsee Community College library. The Aurora Beacon-News reports that 23-year-old Michael Szot was sentenced in March to periodic im- prisonment after driving his car through a fence and into a quarry lake two summers ago. Two passengers were killed in the incident. His cause of death is pending toxicology and histology results. COLORADO State legislators and Fremont County elected officials, as well as county commission candidates, toured three Martin Marietta quarries in June, the Canton City Daily Record reports. The company has acquired the Parkdale Quarry and Rock 'N Roll shortline railroad from Front Range Aggregates. It has also purchased the Red Canyon Quarry and Penrose Quarry from Rocky Mountain Materials, giving it a significant presence in the area. Between the three quarries and railroad, Martin Marietta employs approx- imately 40 people in the county. MINNESOTA The Buffalo County Board of Adjustment voted 3-0 to approve a condition- al-use permit for Milestone Materials, a division of Mathy Construction. The Winona Daily News reports that the permit paves the way for its limestone quarry in the town of Mondovi. A plans call for expanding an existing quar- ry purchased in 2004 to 120 acres of adjoining land owned by Segerstrom & Sons. Milestone Materials has a 20-year lease agreement with the land- owner and intends to mine limestone from an estimated 60 acres. Mining is expected to take place on weekdays as needed from March to November, with an estimated annual tonnage of 100,000 tons. NEW JERSEY CONNECTICUT INDIANA Stoneco of Michigan's Denniston Quarry was recently awarded the company's Operation of the Year Award for its perfor- mance during the 2015 construction season. According to The Monroe News, the award recipient is selected by a vote of company management. All of the state's 18 operations were evaluated on safety, plant performance, site appearance, and community involvement. "Denniston's employees are leaders in striving for excellence in Stoneco of Michigan's safety cul- ture," the company said in a press release. "Their core values are rooted in 'Making Safety a Family Business' to ensure that every person that comes on-site makes it home safe every day." In 2015, the plant finished the season with zero re- cordable incidents, zero lost-time incidents, zero yellow iron incidents, and a world-class inspection record with the Mine Safety and Health Administration. The operation also made plant upgrades, including screens and other equipment, to increase production. According to the News Times, bats that have lived in an old tunnel at the Boardman Road Quarry will soon get a new home as O&G Industries constructs a new cave to replace their current home. A spokesman for the company noted that it has been working proactively with the state Depart- ment of Environmental Protection for the last five years to create a new home for the bats. The habitat, which includes a 40-foot tunnel that is 6 feet wide and 7 feet tall and feeds into a large underground chamber, will be completed in time to encourage the bats to use it this winter. Approxi- mately 200 bats have been seen at the site. The Journal Gazette asked its readers to submit the North- east Indiana "hidden gems" that they enjoy showing to friends and family. Featured in the resulting list is Hanson Aggregates' Ardmore Quarry. The quarry has an observation deck that was installed in 1966 and continues to draw in 1,000 school groups for field trips, as well as 10 to 20 daily visitors. Plant manager Brett Pepple told the newspaper that he believes people are drawn to the landscape, which fea- tures highlights the man-made mountain created from the glacier till that once served as overburden to the limestone deposit. Newspaper reader Jean Podzielinski said, "The view from the overlook is breathtaking." PENNSYLVANIA In June, West Manchester Township Fire Department and several other neighboring departments were sent to Magnesia Refractories Co.'s quarry. The York Dispatch reports that a fire there was caused by a malfunction- ing device. A company vice president told the newspaper that the fire was in an isolated area of the plant that was not in operation at the time, and employees followed the proper procedures and called 911. No one was injured, and employees successfully evacuated the plant. The company anticipates repairs, but no impact on its operations. NEW JERSEY Some Bloomingdale residents, including two former council mem- bers, recently suggested that the Borough Council hold a refer- endum on a quarry overlay ordinance. According to NorthJersey. com, the council has been considering a proposal to expand the Tilcon Quarry on Federal Hill, and some residents want to put the issue to a non-binding vote. The town mayor noted that he does not support putting the expansion on a ballot. He said it would be impossible to make all voters aware of the facts to be consid- ered. At the same time, he voiced concerns regarding the town's revenue and the impact blocking the expansion might have on its affordable housing initiative.