RTRAF.Full article Council Approves Nov 16, 2012 Council

New Post Public Reply Private Reply Replies (0) Message Board

Jan 12, 2013 at 10:40 PM

RTRAF .Full article Council Approves Nov 16, 2012

Council approves gold mine ordinances
By Chris Sardelli
Friday, November 16, 2012 at 6:00 am (Updated: November 16, 6:02 am)

After five months of obstacles, debates and halted progress, a series of ordinances related to Haile Gold Mine and mining in general received final approval by Lancaster County Council late Monday night, Nov. 12.

It’s been a long journey for council members, mine officials and Kershaw residents, as several ordinances involving rezonings, development agreements and zoning definitions have been in flux since the measures were presented to council in June.

Chief among those was an ordinance that created a stir amongst some residents, involving the rezoning of several residential properties to an industrial use. Many residents have appeared before council, some fighting back tears, to express concern about potential debris, road traffic and environmental impacts that could result from mining activity in their community.

Having listened to those concerns, as well as information from gold mine representatives, council voted 5-1 on Monday to approve final reading of that ordinance, which rezones 3,081 acres of property located a few miles east of the town of Kershaw, from R-45A rural residential/intense agricultural to I-2 heavy industrial.

Councilman Larry Honeycutt dissented and Councilwoman Charlene McGriff was absent from the meeting. But unlike previous readings, Councilmen Jack Estridge and Rudy Carter did not recuse themselves from the vote.

Now that it’s approved, the ordinance rezones properties near the gold mine, located along Goldmine Road, Haile Gold Mine Road, S.C. 265, Snowy Owl Road, Ernest Scott Road, Uriah Road and Enchantment Road.

The properties are located exclusively in Estridge’s council district.

The rezoning ordinance was originally scheduled for consideration at council’s June 11 meeting and was subsequently postponed, though that didn’t stop several residents from speaking out during that meeting.

First reading was June 25, though second reading was postponed until Aug. 27, pending the completion of a development agreement between the county and Haile Gold Mine.

At that meeting, Layton Lord, attorney for Haile Gold Mine, told council that mine representatives eventually decided not to pursue the development agreement.

The ordinance was then placed on hold pending review by council members and was finally brought back for final reading on Monday.

The final readings of two other ordinances related to mining were also approved Monday night.

Council voted 6-0 to approve both Ordinance 1160, which adds mining definitions to the county’s Unified Development Ordinance, and Ordinance 1161, which adds mining as a conditional use in I-2 zoning districts.

Final reading of another ordinance, to amend a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement between HGM and the county to include additional parcels of property, remains tabled pending legal review. It is unknown when that ordinance will return to council’s agenda.

Little reaction

Though the ordinances have attracted a lot of attention from Kershaw residents in recent months, only one man spoke about the issue Monday night.

Kershaw resident Gus Deligiannidis took a few moments to give the mine his stamp of approval.

“I believe you should go ahead and approve rezoning and start the next step that the Haile Gold Mine people need to do,” Deligiannidis said.

He also told council his wife of 40 years warned him to “be careful” what he said at the meeting, especially since there have been so many outspoken critics of HGM’s plans in the area.

“My philosophy, my thinking is these people (other outspoken residents) have fear in them because our mind works in pictures and they picture things going wrong,” he said.

HGM attorney Lord also took a few minutes to address council, mainly to shoot down rumors he’s heard from residents that the company was interested in creating a landfill on the property.

“To show good faith, we have signed a covenant that says no landfill will be created on this site,” Lord said.

He also supported the approval of the two ordinances related to the county’s UDO.

“I urge you all to revise the zoning code so in fact you don’t have this problem again,” he said.

“I know it’s been a long process and we ask you to approve third reading.”

http://www.thelancasternews.com/content/counc...ordinances

Romarco Min Inc New (RTRAF) Stock Research Links

RTRAF Board Company Profile Buy Rating Time & Sales News Filings Financials

Newer

Older

Scroll down for more posts ▼

Top 10 Most Recent News Articles

CUBEX Lights Up Veterinary Care with Mini Essential

Inventory Woes? Meet Mini Essential If you’ve ever worked in or around veterinary hospitals, you know the old-school headaches of managing controlled substances. Picture this: piles of paper logs, end-of-shift recounting, and inevitable discrepancies that rear their ugly heads long after closing time. Enter CUBEX, shaking things up with their latest launch, Mini...

From Kitchen Experiment to U.S. Debut Here's a story that barely fits the tight mold of your typical business textbook. Hair Syrup, born from the brain of a university student tinkering at her kitchen table, is about to make waves across the pond. Lucie Macleod did what many dream of—she took a DIY hair oil project and spun it into a multimillion-dollar brand, now set...

Muscle Car Fever Revs Up in New Global TV Series

Chasing the Dream on Wheels Amid the buzz of New York, there's a roar building up that's hard to ignore. It's a sound that echoes through time, capturing the imagination of petrol heads everywhere—those legendary American muscle cars are back in the limelight. I mean, who hasn't dreamt of launching down a highway in a '69 Ford Mustang? 'The Hunt for Rolling Treasure' is...

Strategic Hire: Whisenhunt Joins FlexScreen & RiteScreen

Shaking Up the Window Screens Biz If you've been grinding in the window and door game, you know it's not an industry with a lot of buzz, but here comes a shot of caffeine. FlexScreen and RiteScreen just snagged David Whisenhunt to rev up their sales machine. Who's David Whisenhunt? Well, he's no rookie. With over two decades deep in the fenestration field, Whisenhunt...

Hanover Unveils Skinny Veg® for GLP-1 Dieters

Seems like Hanover Foods is turning heads with their move into the ever-demanding health-conscious market. This family's stepping into the limelight with their new Skinny Veg® line, clearly targeting folks riding the GLP-1 wave. You see, it's not every day that a company that's been around the block since 1924 shakes things up like this. Simplicity is the Name of the...

Fresh Thyme Empowers Local Brands in Michigan Debut

A Community-Driven Retail Innovation The grocery game just got a little more personal in Michigan, and we're not talking about run-of-the-mill retail pitches. Fresh Thyme Market, known for its commitment to local and natural products, is shaking things up with their Pitch Thyme Competition. This ain’t your usual product presentation. It’s a whole new ball game where...

VitalCore Pioneers Jail Behavioral Health Expansion

The Big Move in Correctional Healthcare VitalCore Health Strategies has made an impressive move with the opening of a 60-bed Behavioral Health Unit at Shawnee County Jail in Topeka, Kansas. The unit, part of a $21 million expansion completed on August 24, is set to change the landscape for inmates needing mental health and substance use treatment. This isn't just a slap...

RevSystems Joins Elite OpenAI Partner Network

RevSystems Inks Deal with OpenAI Partner Network In the latest shuffle of the AI advisory deck, RevSystems just found itself elbowing into the exclusive OpenAI Partner Network. Based out of New York, RevSystems has carved a niche by spinning tech wizardry into tangible business results. Their new status as an OpenAI Select Partner puts them on a playing field where AI...

South Florida Donor Network Honors 52 Heroic Donors

A Heartfelt Tribute to Lifesavers You ever been to a gathering that reminds you how deeply human connections run? That's what happened at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood. South Florida Donor Network (SFDN) pulled together a ceremony honoring 52 donor heroes whose legacies beat strong through the recipients living thanks to their gifts. An Event Worth Attending...

IDX Expands, Enhances Team Amid 56% H1 Growth

IDX's Aggressive Global Expansion Here's a tip from a trader who’s seen cycles rise and fall: watch the movers who're playing the long game, putting down roots worldwide while making headway in the data game. IDX has clearly mapped out this trajectory as evidenced by its recent grab in the global strategic communications ring. IDX's bustling around like a squirrel...