• The PUBLIC COMMENTING PERIOD for the rock crusher air permit has been EXTENDED to August 26!

• Please continue to provide comments using the guide below: "HOW TO COMMENT." Numbers always help!

• There will be a VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING on August 23. We'll provide more information once it becomes available.

TDEC lack of notification! - Tinsley applies for an Air Permit June 14, 2022

In order to turn sandstone into sand for profit, a rock crusher is required. An Air Permit must be obtained from TDEC. Once the application is submitted, the public is supposed to have 30 days in which to comment. Even though a couple of us have requested notification on any new permits in the area, we just discovered this one in the past week!

Additionally, new and revised documents were uploaded by Tinsely to the TDEC site on June 28th. This shortcuts the review process and we have formally requested an extended commenting period. With enough comments, TDEC will hold a public meeting to discuss the air permit.

Please check out the Activity and YOUR VOICE! pages for guidance on how to submit a comment!

We're in the NEWS again! The Nashville Scene, July 7, 2022

Please check out the wonderful article in the Nashville Scene discussing the concerns and some of amazing caves we have under our feet!

NewsChannel9 out of Chattanooga reports that Grundy County has filed an injunction!

Hopefully this means that work will stop until the issue can be addressed in court. For the uniformed, Tinsley Asphalt, LLC started construction of a sand plant without ever consulting the county and obtaining the proper permitting. Grundy County has specific regulations regarding the siting of such plants relative to residences, parks, and businesses.

More blasting 4/11/22 at 5:45pm - Neighbors felt strong shocks for several seconds.

Nice Neighbors! - Equipment noise at the Chevy Rd sand plant

The folks on Chevy Rd never even knew this was coming until one of them saw the required sign at the end of this dead-end road! Tinsley never sought to even discuss it with them. And Tinsley doesn't even live in Grundy County.

They're not wasting any time! - Dump trucks loaded with sand or dirt

Is this road even considered usable for heavy trucks and equipment?

TDEC Violation 3-21-22 - Silt fence down at sand plant on Chevy Rd

As can be seen in the video, the silt fence is down and being ignored, a violation of the TDEC permitting that Tinsley was given.

Blasting Begins 3-11-22 - Blasting at Chevy Rd

Michael and Barbara live adjacent to the Tinsley sand plant. Tinsley is blasting and trucking sand and dirt in direct violation of the Grundy County Powers Act of 2019.

02-27-2022 - Folks on Clouse Hill are being told by the Tinsley Superintendent that BLASTING will begin next Thursday, March 3, 2022. Even after being served a cease and desist order, Tinsley is moving forward, with no regard for the people in the area.

• • Citizens have contacted the mayor and commissioners. Even though DRILLING began on Thursday, 2/24/22, rattling homes, apparently the government is waiting for the first blast.

  • Some homeowners were contacted on Saturday by Tinsley, in order to document home foundations before blasting begins. We suspect this is a requirement by the State, but we do not know for sure.

02-22-2022 - We had a great turnout to the Feb 22 workshop, with about 90 in attendance ( during a tremendous thunderstorm too!). Many new faces and it was surprising to learn how many people still were not aware of what was happening. The Grundy Powers Act was explained by the mayor and anyone that would like to speak was given one minute to say what was on their mind. We updated the Home page discussion below with this new information.

• 02-18-2022 - And yet another article on the front page of the Chattanooga Times Free Press

• 02-10-2022 - See the article on the front page of the Sewanee Mountain Messenger

• 02-09-2022 - We've had discussions with the county mayor and he has said that a 'cease and desist' order was served to Tinsley the first week of February. Neighbors nearby say that work continues, with machinery operating long hours and over weekends.

02-03-2022 - From discussions with folks who have contacted the mayor and commissioners, we have learned that Grundy County has permitting requirements that line up with the County Powers Act. Tinsley Asphalt has not applied for any permits and the county attorney is requiring this action. According to what we understand, that no quarries are allowed within 5,000 feet of any residence. Considering there are well over 100 homes within this radius, this alone should be enough to stop operation. We are hopeful this happens soon, as it is reported that heavy equipment is still be moved onto the site.

• Through a roundabout exchange, we've learned that the mayor and commissioners are enacting the County Powers Act and are serving a cease and desist order to Tinsley to stop work. Go Grundy! According to Commissioner Matt Layne, the county lawyer sent a certified letter to Tinsley to cease and desist. This is the first step in the process to filing an injunction (according to what the mayor told him).

• From what we've seen in Decherd, expect Tinsley to take a patient path and have the property rezoned as he grows the footprint. It appears to have taken around two years to accomplish his goal and there are a lot of unhappy citizens within broken window seals, cracked foundations and constant industrial noise.

• Apparently, one citizen in Timberwood Trace had been sounding the alarm but nobody was listening. On January 23, a few of us finally were notified that this was going on and that the Grundy County Commissioners meeting was taking place on January 24 to clarify portions of the County Powers Act.

• The meeting on January 24, 2021 was conducted quickly and it was impossible to tell what was actually being voted upon. However, the mayor briefly talked with us before the meeting and explained the meeting was to clarify a section of the 2018 Grundy County Act concerning "excessive soil removal" and a "grandfather clause." There was no discussion of the language, only the reference to the document and prior meeting minutes was given and voted upon.

• After the meeting, we talked with the mayor for almost an hour and a half. The commissioners did not participate. To summarize the discussion:

  • Apparently, counties can create "Acts" to protect the county from things like adult entertainment, gravel plants, and the like. Grundy County established one in 2018 that greatly restricts sand and gravel extraction, quarries, and topsoil removal. This was well-before Tinsley's purchase of the tract in 2020.

  • The mayor indicates he first heard of the operation about three months ago. He said he not only personally carried a copy of the Grundy County Powers Act to Mr. Tinsley at the site, he also had the county sheriff deliver it.

  • The mayor says he strongly believes in tourism as the way forward for Grundy County and he strongly opposes the sand plant. He believes that the Powers Act is the best approach and that attempts at zoning will fall short.

  • In short, he is asking us to have faith in this process and he is planning to serve a cease and desist order soon.

• The "grandfather clause" was for an older gravel pit and does not include the 2020 Tinsley purchase.

• Again, kudos to the government that they had the foresight to put in place in 2018! Go Grundy County Mayor and Commissioners!

• In January of 2021, Tinsley Asphalt Products submitted and NPDES application for the "Clouse Hill Sand Quarry."

• Part of the approval process requires public notice, a physical sign, and a 30 day comment period for the public. Tinsley's public notice, consisting of a small advertisement in the Grundy Herald (notarized May 27, 2021) posted in June 2, 2021, with the last day of Public comment being July 2, 2021. The physical sign was located on Chevy Road, a dead-end road without a street sign.

• TDEC approved the permit:

  • The permitting area is 138 acres of the 477.

  • The actual quarry, estimated by Tinsley to be 30 foot deep, is expected to only cover about 15 acres of the permitted area.

  • The permit expires in 2025.

  • All of the permitting documents, the public notice, and the signage can be found under Resources

• Sometime during 2021, folks noticed prep work being done on Clouse Hill Road. This road actually is a better grade than Hwy 41, but it's been in rough shape for a long time with several slump areas. Everyone was excited to hear it was going to be repaired and paved.

• Late in 2021, Clouse Hill Road was repaired, widened in areas, and repaved. It was, and has been, a wonderful thing. It's much safer to travel now!

• Tinsley Asphalt won the low bid for the paving contract. One citizen noticed that almost as soon as the paving was complete, heavy equipment was being moved up the mountain. Apparently, it was convenient for Tinsley to repair the road to the specifications he needed to get the equipment to the new quarry site. And of course it was nice to have someone else pay for it.

• Also late in 2021, clear-cutting of the 477 acre tract began in earnest. Neighbors on Chevy Road, Clouse Hill Road, and Timberwood Trace were shocked to see the industrialization of the area. Word began to spread.

• In September of 2020, according to data publicly available on the Tennessee Real Estate Assessment page, Tinsley Asphalt, LLC asphalt company purchased 477 acres from a timber company on Chevy Road, just off Clouse Hill Road in Grundy County.

• Tinsley Properties, LLC has purchased 427 acres near Pelham, near the Grundy County line on White Ridge Road. No TDEC permitting has been found at this time.

• From what we understand from talking with the Grundy County Mayor, the mayor and commissioners have put in place a County Powers Act that, for them, addresses five important aspects of keeping Grundy County and its residents happy and safe, while also planning for the future. While we as of yet have been unable to obtain the document, two of the five points are related, and very important, to this issue:

  • The promotion of Tourism - The Grundy County Mayor is working with the State Governor on this. It's now been demonstrated that this is a winning approach for the County. People see this place as a resort, a natural playground, and they're bringing their families here to escape from the hustle and bustle. Kudos for this vision!

  • The strong regulation of sand, gravel, and rock extraction, as well as excessive topsoil removal. The County Government recognized that allowing outside interests (sometimes international holding companies) with millions of dollars, are wolves at the door. And while Grundy County has a proud history, it's time to take control of our future.