County won't move forward with Parvin Butte mining appeal
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DEXTER, Ore. - Arlen Markus said for months he's slowly watched his view of Parvin Butte slip away.
"We've worked our whole lives to buy property out here and live in a peaceful area and it's been turned upside down on our heads," he said.
Markus and other neighbors have been fighting to keep mining off the butte. But for months, it's been happening just a mile from his front door.
He had hoped the county would move forward to file an appeal on how the county can regulate the land.
"That there would be a site review and that indeed we would have some input as to what happens in our own community," he said.
A county hearings official found land use laws don't give the county much ability to regulate mining operations.
On Wednesday, commissioners voted 3-to-2, not to move forward with an appeal on how the county would regulate the quarry.
"I just think they already had their minds made up and I think they're pro-development and they didn't even take the neighbors considerations in making their decision at all."
According to the county, commissioners who voted not to go forward with the appeal, said by voting against it, they wouldn't lose what little regulation they had over the project.
"I think they didn't even take the neighbors considerations in making their decisions at all," said Markus.
Calls to mining company spokesperson Greg Demers were not returned Thursday.
In the meantime, Markus is worried that dust, noise and traffic will continue at the site.
"I'm thinking that it gives them a lot more freedom to do what they want."
