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3/05 - Due
to more than unusual evening work at the quarry in the winter and as the
buffering deciduous trees have not yet gotten their foliage the rock-crushing
sound is very disturbing in the late evening as the air cools and winds
are northwesterly. County code enforcement is unresponsive to calls, even
multiple calls put in by different persons to the director of code enforcement.
Cypress trees
can be sourced via association director for $15 for 6ft trees. If ballot
with dues comes back with positive responses, board will move forward
and plan for work-parties for plantings in April. Rinker has agreed to
assist with clearing but will not contribute money for the effort. Will
need to consider forms of irrigation or feasibility of using multiple
hoses to manually water trees during longer summer dry spells this year.
2/05
-
The Association board met and during the discussion of this topic and
though consensus was that berm plantings are positive and supported, opted
to put a ballot to the homeowners with Spring dues as there would be association
funding involved. Board hopes to get responses by April 1 in order to
have a go/no-go and plan for procurement of 150+ cypress trees by mid-April
with planting to begin immediately thereafter.
11/25/04
- The
survey results were provided to the Hiddenbrook Terrace Homeowner's board.
The board discussed the option to fund and plant evergreen trees on the
southern border, with Rinker's permission, to buffer noise.
More info
10/24/04
- Rolf
Vellek visited officials at Clark County code enforcement to discuss the
inconsistent use of the strobe ala mrs and to discuss after-hours noise
issues cropping up again as the northwesterly winds pick up.
8/1/04
Update: Selected
homes in the community were surveyed in July. The results will be tabulated
and shared with the homeowner's association board in late September.
Some great
news we've received word from Rinker that starting in early July, they
began outfitting heavy equipment with inaudible strobe alarms. This means
that devices like loaders will not use an audible alarm during non-daylight
hours, but a radar/strobe system. Bottom line, you can enjoy late evening
hours and go to sleep, especially on warm nights with your windows open,
and not hear the continuous backup alarms required by OSHA. This demonstrates
some real progress, certainly a key issue I've been focused on while Jeff
Pulicella's (association director) key area of interest has been the blasting.
7/6/04
Update: As
of July 1, Rinker Materials has begun equipping heavy equipment with strobe/radar
alarms for use during non-daylight hours. This is a significant benefit
to the community as backup alarms will be inaudible during late evening
and early morning hours.
Key Facts:
- The quarry
has a history extending 100 years, land is owned by WA Dept. of Transportation
Rinker Materials has an approximate 30 year agreement to perform mining
act ivies. An estimated 10-12 years remains as of 2004.
- Quarry
activity is moving closer to Hiddenbrook Terrace, right over hill/burm
to the south within next 4-5 years and moving westward for following
5-6 years.
- Progress
has been made to abate alarm/equipment noise by:
- commitment to use strobes during non-daylight hours
- plan to investigate and fund evergreen plantings on border for long
term noise buffering, particularly in late summer hours and in winter
when wind brings sounds over ridge.
- Rinker
Materials take seismic readings and are adamant that blasting impact
is within state and federal guidelines with no adverse impact to homes
- Rock crusher
is largest in the state. By mid-2005 it will be replaced by two smaller
ones.
- While
Hiddenbrook is in city, Quarry is in the County; County code enforcement
applies but there has been little leverage as noise levels are inconsistent
and hover right around maximum levels of 60db during day and 50db at
night.
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Strategic Plan - Rev 7 (11/04)
