Councilwoman Connie Kepert Ends Threat of Asphalt Plant within Two Months of Taking Office

The Roanoke Sand and Gravel Corporation have withdrawn their application to build an asphalt plant in Middle Island.

“I fought this application as a civic leader, and as an elected official I am elated to have been able to quickly stop an asphalt plant from being built in Middle Island,” stated Councilwoman Kepert.

Roanoke Sand and Gravel submitted an application to build an asphalt plant in February 2003.  For 3 long years the past administration was unable to stop an application, which threatened the people of Middle Island, and surrounding communities.

Upon receiving a copy of the site plan the past administration simply sent a copy of the Environmental Assessment Form to required State & County agencies.  No one acted.  No one warned the community.  The Town did not even seek lead agency status until February 2005, two years after the original application was filed, and not until the community loudly objected.

In Record Time

In contrast, Connie Kepert aggressively pressed to end the threat to build an asphalt plant immediately upon taking office.  “This agreement represents how my administration plans to tackle these types of threats that arise in our Town.  I applaud the efforts of Connie Kepert in finding common ground with Roanoke Sand and Gravel, so this community would be spared having an asphalt plant constructed nearby” said Supervisor Brian Foley.

Bob Golden, a community resident who gathered thousands of signatures on petitions to stop the plant stated: “ We have been begging the town to kill this application since we uncovered it 2 years ago.  Our new councilperson has served this community very, very, well, and now I can go back to playing cards.”

Crafting Solutions
Councilwoman Kepert Brings Roanoke Sand and Gravel to the Table

The Barker family is now looking forward to working in cooperation with the Town in the re-zoning of their properties and understands that the asphalt plant use will be eliminated.

The Barker family has invested in an electric dredge, which illustrates the family’s willingness to run an operation that is both environmentally friendly, and which reduces the noise connected with mining activity.

“This is a great win for Middle Island, a great win for the environment, and a great win for the people of Brookhaven!” stated Kepert.