Residents in Hampton, Carter County, protest quarry blasting; commission puts planning-commission removal on August agenda

Dozens of Hampton-area residents told the Carter County Board of Commissioners on July 15 that a newly active rock-extraction operation on property owned by Planning Commissioner Gary Bailey has damaged the landscape, threatened springs and wells, and brought heavy truck traffic to narrow local roads. The board voted to place consideration of removing Gary Bailey from the planning commission on its August agenda so the issue can be formally reviewed and the commissioner given notice and an opportunity to respond.

The matter surfaced during the meeting’s public-comment period, when homeowners described being approached by the company’s contractor and told it needed access to private property to document conditions before blasting. “A gentleman from DCE Technical van knocked on our door and said I have been hired by Baker Construction to come to your house, to inspect, to take pictures inside and out… because they're going to be blasting on…