Board ratifies Walker County Stone contribution agreement after state permits issued for quarry
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Summary
Commissioners ratified a county road-maintenance contribution agreement with Walker County Stone LLC, tied to a new rock‑quarry operation that has obtained state permits. Commissioners said the contribution will go to a dedicated fund for road upkeep to offset heavy‑truck impacts.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 6 ratified a contribution agreement with Walker County Stone LLC intended to fund county road maintenance tied to a newly permitted rock quarry.
Commissioner Blakemore told the board that state environmental and permitting authorities had issued the permits the quarry needed and that county officials had no authority to deny those permits. "They are not asking for any tax breaks," he said. "They want to be good neighbors," Blakemore added, describing negotiations that led to an agreement for extra contributions the company will make to a county-maintained fund for road repairs tied to trucking impacts.
The agreement was described as an additional contribution on top of the taxes and fees the company will pay. The board said the funds will be set aside for road maintenance and upkeep where quarry traffic will impose extra wear.
The measure was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The board did not record a roll-call tally during the meeting.
Commissioners said county staff had negotiated to increase the contribution amount compared with earlier proposals, and that payments would grow with the quarry’s scale of operations. The county will finalize administrative steps to receive and track the fund and use it for maintenance tasks attributable to heavy truck traffic.
The board's action ratifies the county's execution of the agreement and authorizes the chairman to sign documents required to implement the arrangement.