Jeff Davis residents speak out against proposed dirt pit

Published 6:00 pm Thursday, October 12, 2017

JENNINGS — The owner of a proposed dirt pit just east of U.S. 165 in Lacassine withdrew his parish zoning request Wednesday after nearby residents voiced concerns about road damage.

“I didn’t intend for it to turn into all of this at all,” said Andrew D. Johnson, who had proposed rezoning property on Pinehill Cemetery Road. “I thought I was doing the right thing by going through the proper channels.”

Johnson said he didn’t want to start a full-fledged dirt pit business, but wanted to dig out some dirt to sell and use for other things he wanted to do and to help his family. He said he agreed with the residents’ concerns and that he also wants to see the road paved.

“I want the dirt pit, but I don’t want to cause more problems by trying to sell dirt on land,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to tear the road up trying to sell some dirt to make some money.”

Residents of Pinehill Cemetery Road and Frederick Road were concerned that the dirt pit’s heavy truck traffic would damage their road, which is to be blacktopped by the end of the year. Others worried about noise, dust and property values.

Police Juror Bryon Buller said property values would decline with the dirt pit and noted that the residents have been paying a rural tax to get a new road for residential use. He also voiced concern about safety, especially for elderly residents having to travel on a narrow road with large trucks.

John Richard of Frederick Road said it would be “disastrous and a waste of money” to pave the road, then destroy it with traffic from a dirt pit.

Glenda Dickerson, who grew up on Pinehill Cemetery Road, said she has always wanted a blacktop road.

“I have prayed all these years for a blacktop road and we finally might get it and we’re talking about putting a dirt pit where we are going to have trucks constantly coming and going and tearing up our road that we have prayed so long for,” she said. “For all of us that are excited about our road being paved, we want to keep it good and not torn up.”

Mark Abel of Frederick Road voiced concern about the condition and weight limit of the road.

“It’s good enough for a one ton as far as heavy-duty trucks, and that’s only good down the middle of the road,” Abel said. “If you put anything that has a tandem axle on it you are going to have ruts that are going to be 6 inches deep, especially when it starts to rain.”

If the road is blacktopped as planned, then the surface will crack from the heavy weight, he said.

The proposed dirt pit would be in Tina Ackel’s backyard. She voiced concerns about noise, dust and damage to both the road and vehicles.

George Gotreaux of Pinehill Cemetery Road reminded police jurors that Cormier Village Road was “torn up” when a dirt pit was allowed there. He also said a dirt pit has already been operating in the area and questioned its zoning.