The Wright City Board of Aldermen informally agreed to put the matter of the approval of the Magruder asphalt plant back on the board’s agenda for their July 23 meeting.
The board had previously approved a proposed site plan for the plant with conditions by a 3-1, with aldermen Kim Arbuthnot, Karey Owens and Don Andrews voting in favor of the measure and Alderman Russ Lyons voting against.
Since that vote a groundswell of public sentiment against the plant has been prevalent online and during the board’s July 9 meeting so many members of the public attended that additional chairs were brought out to accommodate seating.
Prior to allowing public comment, which was almost solely objections to the asphalt plant, Andrews appeared to make a motion of sorts saying that he wanted to rescind his vote in favor of the asphalt plant.
City Attorney Paul Rost said under parliamentary procedure Andrews could make a motion to reconsider the approval, but Andrews said he wanted to give Magruder due process and just wanted the board to agree to put it on the next agenda.
Owens debated a bit with Andrews on his request to reconsider the vote, and she and Arbuthnot made it clear their position on the matter in favor of retaining the previous vote. Ultimately though the board agreed to put it on the next agenda.
This agreement was followed by 14 members of the public, most of which lived in Wright City, while a few live just outside the city limits. All spoke against the asphalt plant.
The first speaker was Jackie Ramey, who has led a push online to get the board to reconsider their approval of the plant. Ramey said she felt that one of the main questions that residents wanted answered was how the proposed asphalt plant fits within the city’s M-1 zoning classification. She said she had researched other nearby cities and noted that such plants were usually approved under a different mechanism such as a conditional use permit.
Andrews told her that no answers to public comment queries would be given at this meeting, but would be discussed at the next meeting.
Following Ramey’s comments, several more residents spoke, bringing up a whole host of issues.
Several spoke specifically about the health issues attributable to an asphalt plant, while others brought up concerns about property values and the general effect such a plant would have on quality of life issues.
One speaker referenced the proximity of Wright City High School to the proposed plant and its effect, specifically on student-athletes.
One speaker discussed the fact that downtown Wright City is downwind from the proposed plant and allowing the plant could significantly harm businesses in the area.
Still others said the plant could completely destroy what Wright City has become for residents.
The board also voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to annex Indian Head Lodge Road into the city.
The board also voted unanimously to approve a bid from Survant Heating and Air Conditioning for replacement of the air conditioning and furnace at the Wright City Police Department at a cost of $10,184.
