Sumter County commissioners approved increasing the depth of a limestone mine Tuesday night, despite complaints by neighbors of sinkholes and other issues.
The action amends the operating permit of St. Catherine Limestone Mine to allow a depth of 58 feet instead of 32 feet. The property is on the north side of County Road 673 about a mile east of Interstate 75. The mine operator is Cemex Construction Materials.
Before the permit vote, County Board Chairman Doug Gilpin said the company is reputable and has operated a long time in the county. He also said there is no record of complaints in the county’s files.
But neighbor Concetta Mercer had several complaints at the meeting.
She said dishes rattle when the mine is operating and a sinkhole damaged her home. Other neighbors also have suffered sinkhole damage, including one across the street who lost her home, Mercer said.
Filling the sinkhole required thousands of gallons of fill material, she said.
“I don’t want to lose our home,” she said. “If all this has happened to us at 32 feet, what will happen at 58 feet?”
Another neighbor said if the mining depth increase affects drinking water, it would cost $10,000 for a new well.
“Who’s going to hold Cemex responsible for what they do?” asked neighbor Ted Turner.
Another mine also drew complaints at the meeting.
Two residents of Wildwood’s Oak Hill subdivision said a road leading to the sand mine is at the edge of their property and carries dump trucks every day. The subdivision is south of the Florida Turnpike and west of U.S. 301.
Troy Reynolds said the mine generates 1,000 trips a week. He said the road could be moved so it is not adjacent to the subdivision.
Gilpin suggested Reynolds meet with county development director Karl Holley about the issue.
