Residents urge Excelsior Springs to act as quarry blasting, dust and road damage affect nearby homes

Dozens of residents from the Cameron Road area told the Excelsior Springs City Council on May 5 that blasting and heavy truck traffic tied to nearby I Decker mining operations are damaging homes, creating dust problems and stressing local roads.

Speakers said the quarry’s blasting has caused foundation cracks, thrown bricks from chimneys and shaken houses, and that dust has made outdoor activity difficult for residents with respiratory conditions. They also said the quarry’s activity and heavy vehicles have left the Chip-and-seal county road between Highway 69 and Northeast 136th Street in poor condition and raised safety concerns for drivers.

Residents said they understood parts of the site lie outside Excelsior Springs city limits and under Clay County jurisdiction, but asked the city to act because the city has annexation plans for the area and an agreement related to road maintenance with I Decker. The city manager said staff prepared a map showing the city-limit lines and that the city will review the road-maintenance agreement with I Decker and continue conversations with affected residents.

Several residents described recurring early-morning blasts. Pam Smith said blasts occur “around 03:45” and that dust accumulation on furniture and repeated tremors have harmed the family’s quality of life and her husband’s health. Michael Rittmeister, who said he recently built a new house near the blasting, described new cracks and a shattered window and said his children are frightened when the blasts occur. Phil Skow described settling at a driveway threshold and a fallen chimney brick. A resident said a sinkhole recently opened on property the company annexed, and neighborhood members reported the company returning the next day to fill it.

Council members acknowledged the comments and said the city will look into the issues. City Manager Molly McGovern told the council she had a map for councilmembers to review that shows city-limit lines in relation to the quarry and said the city has an existing road-maintenance agreement with I Decker that staff will examine. No formal council action or vote on the quarry was taken at the meeting; the comments were part of the public-comment period.

Why it matters: Residents said structural damage, dust and heavy truck traffic are ongoing and affect homeowners’ daily lives, health and property values. Because parts of the affected area are adjacent to or in planned annexation territory, residents framed the problem as one that could also affect future city planning and development.

Residents’ demands and city direction

Discussion points raised by residents included requests to: post weight limits on the county road, investigate whether the company holds mineral rights or permits for underground tunneling, inspect homes for blasting damage, and coordinate with Clay County planning and zoning. Several residents reported that they organized a neighborhood group of roughly 30 households to pursue the matter.

City direction: Molly McGovern said staff will review the city’s agreement with I Decker regarding road maintenance and will continue conversations with residents. The council did not take a vote or issue directives that change policy during the meeting; the record shows only that staff acknowledged the complaints and will follow up.

Clarifying details and claims from residents

- Neighborhood group size: about 30 residents reported organizing around the issue (resident statements). - Typical blast times described by residents: roughly 03:45–04:00 each day (resident statements). - Reported effects on homes: foundation cracking, a shattered window, fallen chimney brick, driveway settling (resident statements). - Reported sinkhole: residents said a sinkhole the size of the council chamber appeared on land the company annexed; they reported the company returned the next day to fill it (resident statements). - Jurisdictional note: residents stated the road is a county-maintained chip-and-seal road but said they had been told parts of the road may be the city’s responsibility (resident statements); Clay County Planning and Zoning was identified by a resident as a contact they had already approached.

What council did at the meeting

- No ordinance, resolution or formal motion related to the quarry was introduced or voted on during the meeting. City staff committed to review existing agreements and maps and to continue discussions with the neighborhood.

Speakers