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 the mountain beside of you. And, if you don't do this, you will sign that if there's anything happens, we will not be responsible,” resident Sandra Munger said.

Other speakers told commissioners they were not informed by county authorities before site work began and that a small legal notice in the newspaper used technical terms that failed to identify the location in plain language. “This project has already ruined a quiet slice of the American dream for anyone currently raising or looking to raise a family in Hampton,” said Ben Brown, a Hampton resident, citing concerns about property values, vibrations from blasting and heavy-truck traffic on Dennis Cove Road.

Local roadway and public-safety concerns were raised as well. Michael Claus, who described himself as a roadway inspector, warned that “heavy loaded truck traffic will soon descend on Dennis Cove Road” and urged the county to make clear who will be responsible for repairing county roads if they are damaged.

Small-business owners also testified. “People come to Hampton for the absolutely stunning mountain views… If the views of the Appalachian Trail are obliterated there, we would lose who knows how much revenue,” said Celeste Lance of Appalachian Coffee Cupboard in Hampton, describing the tourism impact on summer business.

Commissioners and staff acknowledged the public outcry and described confusion about how the project reached the permitting stage. County Attorney Harden briefed the board on the applicable legal framework and a new state law (Public Chapter 132) that creates a process for removal of appointed local officials; he told the commission that the statute requires five business days’ notice for the person whose removal will be considered.

After extended public comment and internal discussion about transparency and planning-process rules, a majority of commissioners voted to place the item — “removal of planning commissioner Gary Bailey” — on the county’s regular August agenda so the subject can be formally considered with the statutory notice and opportunity to respond. The board’s chair said staff would send the required notice; the motion’s maker and second were not specified in the meeting transcript.

County officials and multiple speakers stressed that the activity had been permitted under existing procedures, but residents and several commissioners said the process lacked adequate public notice and local engagement. Commissioners urged staff to review whether permitting procedures and planning-commission practices should be changed so residents in affected districts receive earlier notice of land-disturbing and blasting operations.

The commission’s next regular meeting will include the removal-consideration item; county staff indicated they would send five business days’ notice to Planning Commissioner Gary Bailey ahead of that hearing.