[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6083894,"mediaKeyId","2925936-0b4179b7c687962489a7fe80221d6064","parentId",2925936,"title","Public commenter cites Alabama statute and killed local bill while urging protections from quarry blasting","audioSeconds",132,"startMs",11000,"endMs",143000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2925936-0b4179b7c687962489a7fe80221d6064&start=11&end=143","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2925936-0b4179b7c687962489a7fe80221d6064/thumbnail_11000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083894/Limestone-County/Alabama/Public-commenter-cites-Alabama-statute-and-killed-local-bill-while-urging-protections-from-quarry-blasting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083894-c6098f69ecc3c1c6a9aaf5916ad33f72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139750&Signature=k3XkXnXeEqEu6pJd1Hzzaby66KO76ggsUsYzGjOmvbAEXbNY28BqVjfOEsVSo-rRA-ojhy7FEVs~haCX06YA9T6qEEWe-ONCKmm-g-F1ZHpjmEJuI61SznvpR72ghGgYL~6lwCttsdnuqGuBQdZCiNfWQwnN-ySTrv52wjwLmrM4nr1kcGW8YOdTlvkn68bJInNkYUK1m~QkhYbkpZsBWHixk0zxHqI8n6tvusTHaS61LHTBES0G24MdtKuh9w901e-rWIsTLr2yc9h8KIl~jjt-2xLa4DlYq9qLbnGszrbHExlVeaG5JzR5jxQvyh816N2LkqMuujChD5hBWUZs0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Limestone County, Alabama","date","2025-04-07T18:25:07Z","article","At the Limestone County Commission work session, resident Kelly Dye urged commissioners to use their zoning authority to block blasting near historic structures and said a local bill that would have restricted blasting within two miles of historic buildings was defeated in a county committee in April 2024.

Dye read from Alabama law and told commissioners that Alabama Code §45-42-260 permits the Limestone County Commission to divide unincorporated territory into zones, including zones where blasting may be regulated. She said a local bill introduced by Representative Parker Moore, Republican District 4, proposed restricting blasting sites from within two miles of any structure designated as historic; Dye said the bill was \"killed\" in a standing committee and that failure to limit blasting would threaten multiple historical sites and communities she named.

Dye said the defeated measure would have blocked a proposed rock quarry near Belt (referred to by the speaker as in the Belmica/Belmina community) and would have protected \"more than 30 historical sites throughout Limestone County.\" She urged commissioners not to side with industrial interests at the expense of residents.

The chairman replied that the public-comment period is not the forum for back-and-forth question and answer and did not engage in specific debate on zoning policy in the recorded work session. Kelly Dye said she had sent emails to the commission that went unanswered and that the silence was \"very telling and very discouraging.\"

The transcript does not record any formal commission action on zoning or quarry permitting during the work session; Dye's remarks were presented as public comment requesting the commission and staff consider protective zoning or other measures.

Commissioners and staff did not state a next step on the record during the public comment portion of the work session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 7, 2025 Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","A resident told commissioners that Alabama Code §45-42-260 gives the county zoning authority outside municipal limits and urged protection after a local bill that would have restricted blasting near historic sites failed in committee.","taxTitle","taxId",13474,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6083899,"Residents press Limestone County to act on closed wellness-center pools; say Huntsville Hospital pledged transfer",1204,371000,1575000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2925936-0b4179b7c687962489a7fe80221d6064&start=371&end=1575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2925936-0b4179b7c687962489a7fe80221d6064/thumbnail_371000.jpg","/articles/6083899/Limestone-County/Alabama/Residents-press-Limestone-County-to-act-on-closed-wellness-center-pools-say-Huntsville-Hospital-pledged-transfer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083899-91316d13799c929783cf6884f6ff304c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139750&Signature=PqPCRom1mH3MDxscc1ib0b0UiVkN6oTykuIxTeB3j3-blBmt-aUPysMiJ4z8kjhQoH7D1axmytH8Qm~z8qiuZhfnjrI3~UATBaxW4J5L-Lk1Yw4Q9klBlFcMDaZn8LfVgam2U-gfXpWKQkrWmHO6RIXEF0eri90fm4AUBGArwRIP-827hAMD-TBLDUrDIUOqeGWxZ8alpI02agOqlSD70NAH4GpSyhShq~dy~bPR3pPhK9bV7T0izzmjuW-JZiihQjTlVBYUAizT6eGwOzc8OpvicKhbf6uMWWG13T4ppha4mLGf9aUUMTkMJB-nkgMF-vSzu7i~ShM~X54s9x~5QQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents told the Limestone County Commission at the work session that the county and Athens have not followed through on a previously reported commitment by Huntsville Hospital to return the wellness center pools to local control, and they urged action to reopen indoor pools.

Laura Lynn Kerner said she and Dr. Turner met with Huntsville Hospital leadership in 2023 and secured a commitment from Jeff Sams, the hospital CEO, that the pools would be returned to the county or Athens; she said hospital counsel Joe Campbell directed Sams to give the pools back and that later meetings involved hospital officials and a county representative named Colin Daley. Kerner said she and supporters provided a strategic plan but that, as of the work session, “it’s been 1 year and 7 months since that time, and we have not seen any action taken.”

Speakers highlighted local demand for an indoor pool for rehabilitation, early-childhood swim lessons, swim teams, water aerobics and other community uses. Deanna Babb said Athens is one of the fastest-growing Alabama cities and argued a county indoor pool would fill gaps for youth activities, medical rehabilitation referrals and older residents who cannot travel to Madison or Huntsville. Beth Edwards recounted social and mental-health benefits for seniors who used the previous program and said the community continues to need an indoor aquatic facility.

Kerner said she understood money had been made available: in her remarks she said “you get $1,500,000 from TBA, you got $4,800,000 from a hospital tax,” and she quoted county and hospital contacts saying funding was not the obstacle. The commission did not, during the work session, record a vote to accept or allocate those funds; commissioners and staff did not announce a timetable for accepting or transferring the facility while residents were speaking.

Kerner asked the commissioners directly about the plan and said volunteer supporters had offered to help ensure the pool would be sustainable. Commissioners acknowledged the comments and thanked speakers but did not state a specific next step during the work session record.

Residents requested information about the transfer, use of identified funds, and a path to reopening the pools; the commission said staff would follow up after the work session.","Multiple residents urged the commission to reopen indoor pools at the wellness center after a pledged transfer from Huntsville Hospital and funding claims; speakers said little action has followed the hospital commitment.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6083904,"Limestone County commissioners question cost, authority of opening graves and burying livestock",737,1962000,2699000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2925936-0b4179b7c687962489a7fe80221d6064&start=1962&end=2699","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2925936-0b4179b7c687962489a7fe80221d6064/thumbnail_1962000.jpg","/articles/6083904/Limestone-County/Alabama/Limestone-County-commissioners-question-cost-authority-of-opening-graves-and-burying-livestock","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083904-f9690d4354a0359889aa006ee5ad3ab6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139750&Signature=S4ije4sLmHhRgkJYNGcwXnm7Nh3WX7dIuwfHuaLH975J9AwnjY1MaR3cAbPICn2pYoH8wJZSlxlyyQm8SBD7YhDZTUcBmL9k6iNCe2eU7haUiI28-FjrfdkTpyXLU66CV08yRxed0DzujzWqyaZfjUMZu1AigX-b2NzODCgvUPExcCus7pUI8n-HiPEX60MXUyZH9MwnYEVZ65lTX9cD5bMRaFUpqU9XxLEBddNRcCgZnf6IdtqofQvQObzDdH3z8P~24~XsZML6pcpi6tfyYMYwKq--Pt~hAi8~ewXD6dEhDJtC~n8dJOymoOUOF5oPKXYiaK3kvgXRfUgsz6ij5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner discussion during the Limestone County Commission work session on April focused on whether county crews should continue opening graves and burying livestock on private property and how the county pays for those services.

Commissioner Randall Turner said the county has provided those services for decades but that recent records show rising use and costs. He said the commission passed a requirement at the previous meeting that a waiver of liability be obtained before county crews perform grave openings or livestock burials, effective April 1. Turner said counties elsewhere charge hundreds of dollars for the work and questioned using road-and-bridge budgets for what he described as services that benefit private landowners.

Turner framed the issue as three questions: should the county remain in this business when private contractors can do it; whether the service should be funded from the general fund rather than road-and-bridge funds; and whether the county should charge a realistic fee instead of providing the service free. He asked the county attorney and staff to examine statutory authority and recommended requesting an attorney general opinion to clarify whether current practice complies with state law.

Turner gave specific figures from county records when describing scale and cost: he said the county buried about 336 farm animals in 2023 and 284 in 2024, and that crews opened 272 graves in 2023 and 324 in 2024. He said FEMA guidance suggests an approximate equipment-and-labor cost of $200 per hour and that county records counting two hours per job imply roughly $364,000 spent over the past two years to perform those services. Turner said districts receive a $30 reimbursement per instance and that the remainder is covered from district budgets (he said those are road-and-bridge funds).

Other commissioners raised public-welfare concerns, noting that in rural areas with private wells and springs leaving carcasses in place can contaminate water. One commissioner suggested that, if the county continues the service, it should be paid for out of the general fund or handled by a designated maintenance department rather than diverting road crews from pavement work.

Turner warned that if commissioners or staff fail to follow the new waiver policy the county risks liability, and he urged following the rule passed at the prior meeting. He said he would seek an attorney general opinion to resolve conflicting statutory language he described to the commission.

The discussion ended with agreement to bring the legal question back for review and with several commissioners saying they supported further study, including an official opinion to clarify funding and statutory authority.

The county did not record a new vote on changing the service policy during the work session; Turner said the waiver requirement was passed previously and asked staff and counsel to follow up.","Commissioner discussion flagged rising costs and possible legal limits after county crews opened graves and buried farm animals for residents; commissioners noted a recently passed waiver requirement and asked for an attorney general opinion and clearer funding authority.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenter cites Alabama statute and killed local bill while urging protections from quarry blasting

Residents press Limestone County to act on closed wellness-center pools; say Huntsville Hospital pledged transfer

Limestone County commissioners question cost, authority of opening graves and burying livestock