Concrete firm sues NBACC for libel cont... Continued from page 8


the costs of legal defense. Pohl-Zartesky said he and the


NBACC will fight Blue Ridge Concrete’s claim vigorously and plan to counter-sue. Blue Ridge Concrete filed the


suit May 21 and Pohl-Zartesky re- ceived notice May 26, the day of a public hearing for the plant’s appli- cation for an air quality permit. NBACC members and others


totaling roughly 200 were nearly unanimous in their opposition. Te permit is the last the ready-


mix concrete plant would need before beginning operation at the proposed site on Murphy Hill Road. Te WNC Regional Air Quality Agency will be making a decision in two-to-six weeks. Several speakers said there is a


disturbing pattern of numerous code violations at Turner-owned plants. Sandra Doyle presented several environmental violations of total suspended solid content at Turner’s Knoxville, Tenn., plant. Other residents stated their con-


cern about the effect on the plant’s emissions on the approximately 3,000 students that attend school within 1.8 miles of the site. Te schools include North Buncombe Elementary School, North Bun-


North Buncombe’s full service hospital


providing care for small animals and horses


Ticks


starting to appear in WNC as they do every spring. Besides being bothersome by attach- ing to us and to our pet’s skin and feeding on blood, they also represent a real and potential- ly life-threatening health risk. Ticks can infect people and pets with several different serious diseases. The most common of these diseases in our region is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). RMSF causes a fever, lethargy, pain and many other possible symptoms. RMSF is potentially fatal but is quite treatable if caught early and is preventable through avoiding tick bites. The best way to protect your dog or cat from ticks and diseases they carry is to decrease their chances of being bit by using products such as Frontline. Be aware that there are many products out there that claim to offer tick protection but are not particularly effective and may not be safe, especially for cats. Ask your veterinarian for advice on the right protection for your pet.


Weaverville, Exit 15 off I-26 Mark Forde, DVM


Sue Reinecke, DVM 645-1616


It’s that time of year again. Ticks are just Gabe and Issac Pohl-Zartesky display their protest to the concrete plant.


combe Middle School, North Bun- combe High School and North Windy Ridge School. North Buncombe High School


teacher Michael Roe asked the board, “If you’re not willing to protect the air quality health of our children, then who will?” Several other North Buncombe


High School students took the op- portunity to state their opposition, saying the plant’s emissions would have an effect on the breathing conditions for the school’s outdoor athletes. Concrete plants use bag filters


and wet suppression to control pollutants. Several of the residents adjacent to the plant’s proposed seven-story silo have health prob- lems. “Unregulated emissions that oc-


cur at these types of facilities will have a detrimental effect on our children and residents,” Martha


www.weavervilletribune.com


Claxton said. Pam Harris, whose father used to


work at a concrete plant, said fast- growing trees and wet suppression was never able to properly keep concrete dust away from nearby residents at her father’s plant. Others also said Blue Ridge


Concrete, who did not have a spo- ken representative at the meeting, presented misleading information in the permit application about the residential nature of the area. “Blue Ridge Concrete is trying to


deny we are a residential neighbor- hood. We’ll we are,” Mark Shuford said, referencing the crowd. Blue Ridge Concrete and the


NBACC, a non-profit group of 1,000 businesses and citizens, have been at odds since 2007 when the company first announced its inten- tions to build a concrete plant in Flat Creek. Te Buncombe County Board of Adjustment turned down


permit requests in 2008, citing en- vironmental and safety concerns under the conditional use zoning plan that was in effect when the hearing was held. However, the N.C. Court of


Appeals invalidated the ruling be- cause of clerical mistakes in the zoning plan in 2009 and a Bun- combe County judge ordered the county to issue building permits last fall. Preliminary construction


has already begun on the site. Buncombe County Commis-


sioner Chairman David Gantt said Blue Ridge Concrete has sued the county twice. “I’m against this plant and I


think it would be a tragedy to the community,” he said. Te closest concrete plant to the


proposed site is the Southern Con- crete plant on Ollie Weaver Road, a less-populous area.


“Te Lord is my strength and song and is become my salvation” Psalms 118:14


Sam’s Radiator & Auto Service


133 Broadway • Asheville, NC 28801 Call owner Sam McAbee


828 252 5070 June 3 - June 9, 2010 - THE TRIBUNE 9


New Location!


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