Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Blasting And Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dixie Springs residents tell Hurricane council blasting is damaging homes and health
Summary
Residents from Dixie Springs told the Hurricane City Council that repeated blasting tied to nearby development has caused home damage, dust and health problems and asked the city to intervene.
Several residents of the Dixie Springs area urged the Hurricane City Council on June 17 to investigate blasting connected to nearby development, saying the blasts have damaged homes, increased dust and worsened health conditions.
The request was made during the council’s public forum by Cindy Matika, a homeowner and Washington County School District teacher, and Terry Crawford, another neighborhood resident. Matika said she and other homeowners have documented cracks and other damage to houses and that blasting has been occurring “two times a week for the past four months.” She also raised safety concerns about blasting near an earthen dike and asked whether the Bureau of Reclamation and state regulators had approved the work. “If our insurance companies knew about all the blasting going on around our properties in Dixie Springs, the likelihood of flooding may be closer to 10 out of 10,” Matika said, noting published wildfire and flood risk scores and urging the council to press state lawmakers and regulators on residents’ behalf.
Crawford described property damage and effects on household members, including panic reactions from a family dog, problems for his asthmatic wife and wind-driven dust that has darkened roads. He told the council the dust and periodic lack of water-truck mitigation have led to medical visits for his wife.
Council members acknowledged receipt of documentation Matika said she had emailed and encouraged her to continue working with staff. Mayor Billings and staff said they will follow up; Matika said she had already spoken with the mayor and called legislative offices. City staff noted they had seen some of the resident-submitted videos and that the fire marshal had been in contact on related issues.
The residents asked the council to prioritize property and public health protections over development pressure. Council members did not take any formal action at the meeting but directed staff to track the complaints and stay in contact with residents.
Residents can expect a staff follow-up; Matika told the council she had provided a slide presentation with photo evidence and asked the council to review slides she identified as showing damage.
