KOBYLUCK SAND AND GRAVEL ORDERED CLOSED

ACCORDING TO "THE DAY" (NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT NEWSPAPER) A JUDGE IN THE NEW LONDON SUPERIOR COURT HAS ORDERED KOBYLUCK SAND AND GRAVEL, 209 RATTLESNAKE LEDGE ROAD, SALEM, CONNECTICUT TO CLOSE IT'S DOORS. THE SALEM COMPANY IS ON AN ESTIMATED 40 ACRES. THE NEAREST RESIDENT IS REPORTED TO BE 200 YARDS FROM THE SITE. IT WAS REPORTED THE NEAREST NEIGHBOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE AT LEAST 500 YARDS FROM THE SITE.

THE PROBLEMS STARTED IN 2005 WHEN RESIDENTS (LIVING IN CLOSE VACINITY) COMPLAINING OF WORK GOING ON BEYOND THE HOURS IT WAS ALLOWED TO OPERATE. THE RESIDENTS ALSO COMPLAINED OF MACHINERY BEING USED THAT WAS NOT ALLOWED. THE RESIDENTS SAID THE NOISE OF THE EXPLOSIONS SOUNDED LIKE "SONIC BOOM." AND FELT LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE. IT WAS REPORTED THAT BEFORE 2005, THE PREVIOUS COMPANY HAD BLASTED THE ROCK AND TAKEN THE ROCKS SOME PLACE ELSE TO CRUSH UP THE STONE. KOBYLUCK DOES THE STONE CRUSHING ON SITE.

THE TOWN TOOK KOBYLUCK TO COURT CLAIMING THE FOLLOWING:

1) THE COMPANY WAS USING MORE THAN ONE STONE CRUSHER THAT IT WAS ALLOWED TO USE.

2) THE COMPANY VIOLATED THE CONDITIONS OF IT'S ZONING PERMIT WHICH REQUIRE ONE AREA OF THE PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN EXCAVATED MUST BE MOSTLY RECLAIMED BEFORE ANOTHER AREA IS EXCAVATED.

THE COURT RULED IN FAVOR OF THE TOWN IN BOTH INSTANCES.

HUGH MCKEANEY, CHARMIAN OF THE PLANING AND ZONING COMMISSION SAID, "IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING."

MATT KOBYLUCK, THE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF KOBYLUCK SAND AND GRAVEL SAID, "WE JUST GOT THE COURT RULING SO WE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING IT AND DETERMINE WHAT ACTION WE ARE GOING TO TAKE.' HE SAID HE WOULD NOT APPEAL YET.KOBYLUCK SUPPOSEDLY ADMITTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MORE THEN ONE STONE CRUSHING MACHINE ON SITE. HE SAID THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE OF THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS.

IF KOBYLUCK INTENDS TO STAY OPEN THE TOWN COULD SEEK FINES AND FEES. THE FINES COULD BE TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS (#250.00) A DAY. THE TOWN'S LEGAL FEES AND ENGINEERING EXPENSESE HAVE RUN INTO THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE NEIGHBORS OF KOBYLUCK SAND AND GRAVEL HAVE GOTTEN THEIR RECOURSE AFTER YEARS OF BEING PATIENT.