Letter to the editor
As a transplant to the Mineola area over the last 12 years, I have been impressed and excited about what the city of Mineola and Wood County have done to encourage growth and development in the area.
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Letter to the editor
Dear editor:
As a transplant to the Mineola area over the last 12 years, I have been impressed and excited about what the city of Mineola and Wood County have done to encourage growth and development in the area.
Things such as Iron Horse Square Park, the Sabine River Paddling Trail, improvements and cleaning up of abandon properties, local festivals, support for national fishing tournaments, improvements to our school districts, and upgrading and enhancing local business areas are just a few items that come to mind.
I have been encouraged that Wood County has taken a proactive approach to strengthening its economy through tourism and a coordinated and publicly accepted plan of action.
However, the public notice in last week’s paper by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a concrete batch plant to be built at the gateway to Mineola‘s crown jewel, the Mineola Nature Preserve, goes opposite of what we all have been working toward.
Not that this business isn’t needed within Wood County, but to construct that type of business at one of the premier nature preserves in the United States is just unacceptable. www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cbp
This concrete batch plant would have silos over 40’ tall and other very visible tanks on this already high elevation site that would have to be lighted 24/7.
I wonder how the equestrian RV park directly across the street will be affected by that. How proud will local residents be when they direct people to the nature preserve by telling them to turn right at the concrete plant? How will we know that the air particles from the plant will not affect anyone within the area? Has there been an environmental study requested or required by the state, county or city?
Tourism is a clean industry that brings visitors to the area to enjoy things that we support and are proud of in Wood County. Please contact your state, county and city officials and let them know it’s a good business, but it’s in the wrong place. Let’s keep Mineola and Wood County proud of what we have worked so hard to develop.
Joe Moore
Mineola
jmoore011854@gmail.com
