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.

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