Media attention may appear to be waning but not so the impassioned voices of homeowners who live near a proposed underground mining site in Sugar Creek, Mo.

Approximately 200 people gathered Thursday at the Mike Onka Memorial Building in Sugar Creek to air their complaints at a second public hearing against Lafarge North America. The concrete giant wants to mine in a residential area that borders an elementary school, four churches and 1,400 homes in unincorporated Jackson County.

“I think if I played with an M-80, you guys would come to my house and have me arrested,” Ken Chapman, a resident and former mine worker, said. “But you guys are playing with dynamite!”

This is the fourth time Lafarge has requested the city rezone the old Cedar Crest Dairy property, north of Kentucky Road between Jennings and Whitney Roads, so they can mine 88 of its 167 acres for limestone. Sugar Creek annexed the property in 2006.

Residents, many who are members of the Cedar Crest Concerned Citizens group, continued to talk about structural damage to their homes that they believe is the result of Lafarge’s current mining project. Lafarge has been mining below WinterStone Golf Course for eight years.

Several people also shared concerns about excessive dust, frequent and expensive replacement of air filters, and the potential threat to respiratory health.

Robin Panuco said she has spent $1,500 on an electric air cleaner and her son has had to increase his asthma medication because of the dust.

“I live near the mine,” she said, referring to WinterStone Golf Course. “What will happen when they’re at our door?”

Anita Cassidy said she, too, is concerned about the level of dust in the air.

“We are yearning to breathe free,” she said, after reciting a verse from the well-known Emma Lazarus poem, “The New Colossus,” inscribed on the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Cassidy added that while she is grateful to France for the gift of Lady Liberty, she does not welcome Lafarge in her backyard.

“Lafarge, go home!” she said.

Former Vice President of the citizens’ group, Jim Stone, said if the city approves Lafarge’s rezoning request, he is doubtful the corporation will honor any proposed agreement with homeowners. He said in the WinterStone agreement, Lafarge promised homeowners pre-blast surveys when blasting neared homes.

However, his request for a survey has repeatedly been denied since 2001. Stone said Lafarge representatives also circulated a sign-up sheet two years ago at a planning and zoning meeting for anyone interested in having a pre-blast survey conducted, but to date, he has never received a call or a letter regarding any survey.

“I have a hard time believing (Lafarge) is going to keep their word (in future agreements),” he said. “It’s a get in, get out, get our money.”

Lafarge representatives did not speak at this hearing.

Jessie Peterson assured aldermen that residents were not overreacting to the impact of underground blasting in their neighborhood.

“We’re not listening to rumors of what will be happening to us,” she said. “It’s what has been happening to us.”

Sandra Mikulich, Sugar Creek, said she wants aldermen to know that many residents of Sugar Creek also are against the mining project. None of the homes impacted by the proposed mining on the dairy property are in Sugar Creek; all are in unincorporated Jackson County.

She said she takes issue with comments made by Lafarge proponents in the last hearing that no one in Sugar Creek is opposed to the proposed mining of the dairy property.

“Well, I’m opposed to it!” she said, to audience applause.

Mikulich asked Sugar Creek City Attorney Bob Buckley what procedure Sugar Creek residents should follow to air their grievances against the mining project. Buckley said they could do so in the public hearing.

A third public hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Mike Onka Memorial Building, 11520 E. Putnam, Sugar Creek. For more information, call the City of Sugar Creek at 816-252-4400 or visit www.sugar-creek.mo.us.