Union officials and a labor organization told Romeoville trustees at the Feb. 1 board meeting that they support more mining at a proposed but controversial limestone quarry expansion in the suburb.

While the village recently rejected a proposal by Hanson Material Service Corp., to purchase and mine 78 acres of additional land next to their current 50-year-old quarry near Illinois Route 53 and Independence Boulevard, some residents still have concerns that the company may be allowed by the village to mine more land near the site that the company already owns.

Nearby residents are also concerned about underground mining at the site, blasting and the possibility that blowing dust in the neighborhood could cause health issues.

But union and labor officials told the board that expanding the site would provide more jobs in the community at a time when they are scarce.

“Please don’t forget the families that work there (at the quarry),” Greg Elsbree, general Teamsters Local No. 179 official, said to the board. “More local jobs will allow our members to spend their hard earned money here (in Romeoville).”

Kara Principe, an attorney for the Indiana-Illinois-Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting, told the board that her organization will be at a public hearing about the quarry later this month to support the expansion and more jobs at the site.

“The quarry expansion will create much needed longer term jobs, 30 to 40 year jobs,” said Principe to the board.

Romeoville resident Tony Deliberto, an operating engineer, said he supports the expansion for more work opportunities in the community.

“I experienced the process of being laid off,” said Deliberto. “Anything that will benefit (creating more) jobs will put families back to work, I’m in favor.”
But resident Dan Davis said a healthy community should come before jobs.
“Residents should not have to worry about breathing in the dust,” said Davis. He also told the board that he is concerned that blasting at the quarry may be damaging nearby homes due to ground movement.

Romeoville Mayor John Noak, however, recently announced that the village will not allow Hanson to change strict blasting standards imposed by the village almost two decades ago.

Hanson officials said the company uses only about a quarter of the blast power that is allowed by the state.

The public hearing on the Hanson proposals will take place on Feb. 14 at Romeoville High School.