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Heath resident urges city action after weeks of dust from neighboring rock cutting
Summary
A longtime Heath resident told council that contractors sawing large rocks at a neighboring rebuild have created dust and fog she says has caused eye and nasal irritation; she asked the city to investigate and consider an air-pollution ordinance. City staff said they would look into it.
Phyllis Salverson, a resident of Dar Estates, told the Heath City Council on Feb. 10 that contractors working on a home next to her property have repeatedly sawed large rocks, producing a dusty haze that has persisted for about one to two months.
Salverson said the dust has left her with red, dry eyes and nasal irritation and that the particles sometimes appear to drift into her house. "My eyes get red ... my nose gets all caked up," she said, and asked the council to act to prevent similar problems for other neighbors. She also raised the height of a rock/landscaping installation and said staff had told her they would investigate.
The issue arose during the public-comment period. Council members thanked Salverson for bringing the matter forward and asked staff to follow up. "Absolutely, ma'am," City Manager Mr. Alexander said when asked whether staff would look into the complaint.
The council did not take formal action during the meeting beyond directing staff to investigate. Salverson urged the city to review its ordinances, saying, "we need to have a good environmental air pollution ordinance so this doesn't happen again." City staff did not cite a specific existing ordinance in the meeting and said they would inspect the situation and report back.
What happens next: staff indicated they would follow up with the resident and examine whether any code enforcement, construction-permit conditions, or nuisance statutes apply, then report findings to the council.
