Llano Count Precinct 1 Commissioner Peter Jones has arranged for tours of a Collier, Inc., sand plant in Jarrell for those who want to see how a proposed plant near Kingsland might look.
The tours are set for Thursday, July 16; each tour will be limited because visitors must wear hard hats.
Jones said Monday, July 13, that spaces are still available; anyone who wants to go should call him at 830-598-2296.
Eighteen speakers signed up Monday to talk to Llano County commissioners about the proposed sand dredging operation on the Llano River, and though some had to leave before the public comment time ended, those who stayed were united in their opposition to the proposal.
Collier, Inc., has reportedly signed a contract with a rancher about a mile from the Ranch Road 2900 bridge on the river to dredge sand, dry it, and truck it to end users. The proposal would send up to 120 truck loads of sand per day along County Road 309 and RR 2900 toward State Hwy. 71 for distribution, Jones said.
Speakers were worried about the cost of maintaining the county road, safety, air quality and property values. Some urged commissioners to adopt a resolution opposing the plant.
However, Jones pointed out that the county has little authority over such projects, limited to some flood plain aspects. Concerns about traffic would fall under the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT); air quality would go to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ); and water quality should be addressed by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), he said.
Jones stressed that the only information he had was verbal. He said no application had been filed so far with any agency that would have a regulatory role.
Still, after the public speakers, Precinct Three Commissioner Mike Sandoval said he thought a major point was the county’s being asked to “put up $300,000 front money (to improve CR 309) to help a plant go into business that won’t benefit the rest of the county.”
“If (company president Kevin) Collier wants that road improved, let him go to the bank and borrow $300,000 and donate it to the county,” Sandoval said.
Commissioners took no action on the matter; it was a discussion-only item on Monday’s agenda.
