Letter: Gravel gold

How many of you living in Marengo-Riley Township are aware of the current petition for more gravel pit gimmes – the addition of a ready mix plant for the 114 acres adjacent to the already existing pits along Maple and Coral?

There are 30 residential properties and 42 future home sites directly across (and that’s downwind of the proposed gravel operation). There go the property values! Here come more monster dredgers, non-stop racket from crushing machines, and the endless dust pollution and CO2 they produce for all to breathe. Here come more diesel dumpers causing hazardous driving and destroying the asphalt roads funded by our tax dollars.

Ask the 2,000 residents of the Algonquin Lakes subdivision whether pages and pages of signed petitions and thousands spent in legal fees can stop a gravel pit’s wishes. Isn’t the purpose of the McHenry County zoning board to uphold the standards of the Conditional and Land Use Plans to protect the best interest and growth of our communities?!

The sad truth is even if the McHenry County Board members actually vote to stop the gravel pit’s wishes, the city of Marengo could annex the business bringing in lots of tax dollars. Then there’s always option three- take it to court with a fat wallet and some important names in a back pocket. Too bad for the neighboring homeowners!

Long gone are Lincoln’s famous words: “government of the people ... for the people...”?

Nancy Kosac, Marengo