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Residents say quarry blasting damaged homes; council adds issue to next agenda
Summary
Multiple residents told the Glocester Town Council that quarry blasting has rattled houses, cracked chimneys and broken glass; the council agreed to put the matter on the next meeting agenda for further discussion.
Several Glocester residents told the Town Council on Aug. 7 that blasting at a nearby quarry has caused property damage, ongoing noise and anxiety and that state permitting authorities have not responded to their complaints.
Gary King, a Glocester resident, told the council he filed a complaint with the State Fire Marshal's office on Jan. 30, 2024 after blasting reportedly cracked window panes and later damaged his chimney. "I sent pictures. It took a week. They showed up. That was more than 2 weeks ago," King said, and later added, "This thing isn't no little chimney. It's, like, 5 feet wide, 5 feet deep, and 6 foot tall." He said the claim has been "in process" and that he has not received a clear schedule or adequate follow-up from state authorities.
Other speakers at open forum described similar effects on homes and children and asked the council to press the operator for better notification and limits on blasting intensity. One resident said that trucks associated with the operation appear to use varied routes to avoid concentrated visibility, and another urged the council to require advance notice so residents can secure pets and vulnerable household members.
Council members acknowledged the testimony and said they would place the quarry and blasting complaints on the council's next meeting agenda for further discussion. The council did not take any immediate enforcement action during the meeting.
Why it matters: Residents described both property damage they say is tied to blasting and a lack of clear responses from the state permitting authority. Council consideration could lead to requests for information, notification protocols, or further coordination with state regulators.
What the record shows: King described multiple interactions with the blasting company's risk manager and said he was directed to file a claim; he estimated the chimney repair could be substantial and said monitoring equipment was placed at a nearby house but that his property sits on ledge and experiences stronger effects. Speakers asked the council to require advance notice of blasts on the police department notification channel.
Next steps: The council agreed to add the issue to the next agenda for follow-up. No formal direction to staff or vote to change permits was recorded at the Aug. 7 meeting.
