Dear Sierra Club Legislative Tree (Kanza Group),

Don't miss the final decision making meeting on the Hunt Martin Sunflower Quarry (formerly known as Hunt/Midwest).  This fight has been waged for 5 years and is going to be decided by the Johnson County Commissioners on Thursday, June 23 rd at 1:30 p.m. at the Johnson County Administration Building (111 S. Cherry in downtown Olathe) in the 3 rd floor Board Hearing Room.  The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will address the Hunt Martin Sunflower Quarry application for a Conditional Use Permit for the last time and vote to approve or deny the CUP.  Sierra Club members have worked hard to get to this final decision point!  Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this important final BOCC meeting.  It helps to show the board that a large group of people want the CUP denied! 

The BOCC will have public comments at this critical meeting on the quarry application, but the time for each speaker will be limited to one minute to present new information only.  Therefore, we are asking you to attend this important meeting and send letters, notes, or brief messages to the BOCC at the following address.  The letter could simply express your opposition to the Hunt Martin Quarry and request denial of the conditional use permit application.

For U.S. Postal Service:
Board of County Commissioners
Attn: Casey Joe Carl, Clerk of the Board
County Administration Building, Suite 3300
111 South Cherry Street
Olathe, Kansas 66061-3486

For email Casey.Carl@jocogov.org   and put in the subject line "Letter to BOCC". 

Please include a statement about your opposition to the quarry and that you are requesting that the BOCC deny the conditional use permit. 

Just as a reminder---the quarry is not compatible with the Kill Creek Nature Park (south side of quarry), Streamway Trails (west side of quarry), future parkland and development of Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant (west and south sides of quarry), rural residential development (north and east sides of quarry).  The quarry has been operating without a conditional use permit since January 2001 and without a blasting permit since January 2004.  The quarry has destroyed approximately 130 acres of rolling hills, prairie, wetlands, and creek valleys and reclaimed only 11 acres with minimal topsoil and grass.  The barren pit is about 100 feet deep and getting bigger every day they operate!  The quarry owns and leases 810 acres and plans to quarry for 50-80 years!  The quarry's vice-president has stated at a public meeting that he has no problem quarrying up to 100 feet from other's property lines.  For more information, go to www.kansas.sierraclub.org and click on the picture of Hunt/Midwest Quarry.  Now is the time to stop this injustice!

Please attend the June 23 rd BOCC meeting at 1:30 and send a message to the BOCC that the quarry operation must end!

Thank you for your continued interest to protect the Northwest area of Johnson County from the destructive land use of the quarry operation next to Kill Creek Nature Park, the Streamway Trails, future development of SFAAP, rural residential development and Kill Creek. Your attendance will make a difference and will be appreciated!  We look forward to seeing you on the 23rd !