July 03, 2008 03:24 pm
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By Melanie Patterson
The North Jefferson News
Kimberly and surrounding communities are building momentum in their fight against a potential mine in Kimberly.
About 50 citizens gathered on the lawn of Morro Law Center in Morris on Tuesday night to discuss strategies for an upcoming bench trial at Jefferson County Circuit Court.
The trial pits RJR Mining Company, Inc., against Jefferson County.
Morris attorney Scott Thomas Morro and Kimberly residents Ralph Lindsey, Brad Stark and Lowell Holland are working together in the fight, along with many other volunteers.
Assistant county attorney Theodore A.l Lawson II is the attorney in the case.
The main theme of Tuesday’s rally was that “mining is not the highest and best use of the land,” as Lindsey said to the crowd.
The men are encouraging all residents who live near the proposed mining site, which is at 8800 Bill Jones Road in Kimberly, to provide them with evidence that will support the “highest and best use” argument.
They also say that mining in Kimberly will negatively affect the quality of life in the area by creating unsafe conditions, like having speeding coal trucks on the road.
People at the meeting said they have already seen coal trucks operating in the area. Several said they have called to complain about the trucks.
“Let’s protect our wives, our mothers and our children,” said Lindsey to the crowd. “Don’t let them be killed by the craziness [created by mining].”
“We want to keep Kimberly like it is now — a town of families, a town of community, a town of growth,” said Holland, who founded the Kimberly Community Action League to oppose the mining.
Kimberly resident John Richardson helped work a roadblock in Morris two months ago, during which 500 people signed a petition opposing the mining.
Calls to RJR Mining in Cullman for comments and information were referred to the company’s attorney, Charlie Beavers.
Beavers’ office did not return phone calls by press time.
Although speakers at the rally said safety is one of the biggest concerns, they said another consideration is land values.
Jean Deason, a realtor with Remax, has worked in land development and real estate for 20 years. She lives in a subdivision in Kimberly near the proposed mining area.
She said that mining “would just be devastating” when it comes to property values in the area.
According to Deason’s estimate, the town of Kimberly could make more than $3.2 million if the area was developed residentially rather than mined.
Lindsey said that’s a better deal for Kimberly than the $100,000 plus 25 cents per ton of coal mined that RJR was going to give the town.
Deason’s figures include revenue for building permits, sales tax revenues on all building materials, business licenses for all contractors and subcontractors, sales taxes collected from workers who buy gas and food and other factors.
Many who oppose the mining claim that RJR is not working alone, but rather is fronting for coal giant Drummond Company, Inc.
In September, Kimberly annexed the property, about 264 acres, which was owned by Drummond. But Drummond later announced that it was going to sell 100 acres to RJR Mining.
Kimberly later de-annexed the property, putting it in unincorporated Jefferson County.
According to the Jefferson County Tax Assessor’s Office, Drummond Company, Inc., is still listed as the property’s owner.
The bench trial is scheduled for Aug. 4, 9 a.m. in room 370 of the Jefferson County Courthouse.
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