HERMANN – An official of Capital Aggregates Thursday morning pledged to Gasconade County and the city of Hermann to work to minimize the effects of blasting and crushing rock at its quarries on Saw Mill Road in town and First Creek Road in the northwest portion of the county.

Chris Williams, vice president of operations of Capital Aggregates, along with local quarry management personnel and a representative of the company doing the blasting at the Saw Mill Road quarry, met with county administrators and several staffers of the city of Hermann during last week’s County Commission session.

What was called as an effort to discuss concerns about blasting evolved into a broader talk about the rock-mining-and-hauling impact on residents near the quarries and the roads bearing the weight of the trucks loaded with tons of rock — with the understanding, of course, that the quarry has limited influence over the independent drivers hauling the rock for most of the day.

Williams noted that the Saw Mill Road quarry is a “low-volume” quarry, but the demand of the data centers in Montgomery County has resulted in the quarry cranking up the volume. And not just here, he pointed out. Williams said “every quarry within about 40 miles” of the data centers is operating at a ramped-up capacity.

Indeed, Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann, mentioned at an earlier session that he had been advised that “a million tons of rock” would be needed for the data centers’ construction.

The standing-room-only crowd attending the Commission session included a city government contingent headed by Alderman Delores Grannemann and City Administrator Patricia Heaney. They were joined by Police Chief Marlon Walker, Public Works Director Jesse Geltz and Street Department Supervisor Todd Lensing. It was Lensing’s crew that recently placed orange cones and yellow tape along the south edge of Saw Mill Road at its intersection with Highway 100 West marking areas of damage resulting from the truck traffic from the quarry.

Saw Mill Road is a jointly maintained highway with portions of it under state, county and city responsibility. Schulte noted that Missouri Department of Transportation Regional Engineer Preston Kramer was not able to attend the Thursday morning discussion with Capital Aggregates. However, the presiding commissioner has been in regular contact with Kramer regarding the potential effects on Highway J regarding the truck traffic in and out of the quarry on First Creek Road. That quarry is just getting geared up to again produce rock.

As for the blasting part of the operation at the Saw Mill Road quarry, Williams said seismographs are strategically placed around the area to measure the explosions’ effects on the ground. A technique was explained that is designed to minimize the shock and noise of the blasting.

“We want to be a member of the community,” Williams said, adding that the company will do whatever it can to be a good neighbor.

That includes steps to control dust at both local quarries. That’s the primary concern of Ben Busch, a resident of First Creek Road and nearby neighbor of that quarry. He said he has no issue with the quarry operation, being familiar with it when it was producing rock under the previous owner.

“I just ask if you can spray the county road or do something to control the dust,” he said.

Dust control is a big issue, also, for Harvey’s Body Shop, located at the intersection of Saw Mill Road and Highway 100. It’s of particular concern for Harvey’s paint booth operation.

“How are we helping him out with the dust?” Schulte asked. Williams said an effort would be made to extend dust-control measures to that part of Saw Mill Road, as well.

There’s another concern on the part of local officials: The upcoming start of another school year means buses, cars and big trucks will be making for a congested area in the morning and in the afternoon. For the dump trucks and long-container trucks, waiting for school-related traffic to clear before entering the flow might mean one fewer trip a day. The trucks are in and out of the Saw Mill Road quarry from 6 a.m. to  4 p.m., Williams said.

How much rock will be coming out of the First Creek Road quarry is unclear. Williams said there has been no firm amount announced. However, he added, “We expect to delivery 150,000 tons per month for the two centers…for the next few months.”

For county government officials, including Sheriff Scott Eiler, who attended the Thursday gathering, safety is a concern at the Highway J-First Creek Road intersection. Right now, trucks leaving First Creek Road would not be able to see eastbound traffic on Highway J without first getting onto the pavement of J. Trees along First Creek provide a sight-distance issue. Schulte said he would talk with MoDOT’s Kramer about the state agency removing trees and vegetation at the intersection.

Like Williams, Schulte said the local government recognizes the difficulties of meeting the demand for aggregate material for the data centers’ development.

“We understand that you’ve got a job to do,” Schulte told Williams. “We want to be a good partner with you guys,” he added.