By WILLIAM KUTSCHERA

I am in complete agreement with, yet puzzled by, the Madison County Planning Commission’s denial of the Irving Materials application for a rezoning of land adjacent to their current operation in Pendleton. By denying the rezoning, which would have allowed IMI to expand its operation, the commission properly enforced the requirements of the comprehensive plan which states, “These officials have been charged and empowered to protect agricultural and natural resources, to ensure efficient expenditure of public funds, and to promote the health, safety, convenience, and general welfare of those living in Madison County.” Michael Hershman correctly stated that the expansion of IMI’s operation would have a negative effect on the values of homes in the area and would not represent responsible growth. However, Mr. Hershman’s opposition, as well as that of the other commissioners, to the IMI expansion seems curiously arbitrary when considering their silence on the Mallard Lake landfill battle.

While the commissioners’ decision on the IMI application will protect the interests of homeowners and businesses in the Pendleton area surrounding the mining operation, they apparently don’t recognize that the protections afforded by the comprehensive plan are applicable to all the residents of Madison County including those in the northwest portion of the county in close proximity to J.M. Corporation’s proposed dump.

Central Indiana Orthopedics, an outstanding healthcare provider, certainly has good reason to object to the disruptive effects of nearby blasting and the commissioners sensibly agreed with its objections to the expansion. However, the commissioners apparently don’t feel that the deafening noise created by semi tractors and earthmovers creating a 60-foot high mountain of garbage across a 17 foot-wide road from Killbuck Elementary would create an intolerable impediment to effectively educating our children. I think most of us would be interested in reading their reasons for making a distinction between the two scenarios.

The Flagship Enterprise was cited as an influencing factor in the commission’s decision to veto IMI’s rezoning application. Business growth in Madison County is essential to offset the job losses, particularly those in the automotive industry, we’ve experienced in recent years. Again, the commission acted responsibly by considering the detrimental effect of IMI’s expansion on attracting companies to Madison County’s “business magnet.” However, Anderson’s airport probably couldn’t continue to operate if it loses its federal operating grants as a result of the unacceptably close proximity of the proposed landfill. Nonetheless, that fact doesn’t seem to merit the concern of these county officials even though the airport is a key factor for many businesses considering Madison County as a potential site for their operations. Can we assume our commissioners and our planning director aren’t aware of the importance of our airport in attracting new businesses fact or is there some underlying plan that hasn’t been revealed to the public?

Michael Hershman stated that the expansion of the IMI operation would have a detrimental effect on housing values in the adjacent area yet he is silent when it comes to the indisputably extreme devaluation of homes in the vicinity of the proposed Mallard Lake dump. Despite his statutory obligation to do so based on information he has been given, he has refused repeated pleas from Madison County residents to order a rehearing on the special use allowance which approved the location of the dump. I’m curious as to why he has demonstrated no concern for the values of homes in close proximity to J.M. Corporation’s proposed landfill operation while voicing great concern for those homes in the area of IMI’s proposed expansion.

The IMI rezoning denial by the planning commission was dictated by the proper application of the directives of the Madison County Comprehensive Plan. However, the planning director’s refusal to order a rehearing of the improperly issued special use allowance for the Mallard Lake landfill clearly indicates a double standard by the commission in its application of the protections afforded Madison County residents by the comprehensive plan. Madison County’s citizens are entitled to equal and fair representation by our elected and appointed officials. Allowing the health, safety and general welfare of citizens in one area of our county to be jeopardized while fervently protecting those of residents living in a more economically vibrant area is not only bad economics, it’s bad government.

William Kutschera is an Anderson resident.