Oconee quarry plans new permanent crushing site, seeks land acquisition and to test rip‑rap production

The Oconee County rock quarry director presented a multi‑year infrastructure and equipment plan to the Budget Finance Administration Committee on Feb. 27, 2026, asking council to prioritize land acquisition and to allow a short rental test of rip‑rap production equipment.

The quarry is preparing to move plant operations to a new permanent location within a portion of the quarry that is effectively terminated on one side (a stable site bounded by a floodplain). Planned work includes new detention and retention ponds, upgraded dust‑suppression pumps to meet pending DEQ particulate limits, a new maintenance shop (previously budgeted at $925,000) and site‑work for new customer sales yards to improve customer flow and on‑time delivery.

Operational requests include equipment replacements and additions: a larger shovel (to raise bucket capacity and reduce cycles per truck), a new stacking conveyor, a compact wheel loader for faster customer loading, and a small‑value fork lift. The director proposed a $40,000, one‑month rental of a rip‑rap production plant to test whether bagged/processed rip‑rap can be produced consistently enough to justify purchase — a step he said would help the county capture unmet local demand and diversify products (gabion blocks, bagged sand) and revenues.

He emphasized that while the quarry is an enterprise fund that generally funds its own capital, long‑term land acquisition requires bonding because a substantial land purchase would preserve the resource and support decades of production — helping secure a stable revenue stream for the county. The director also reported that recent price increases reduced tonnage but kept revenue steady, and that a modest extra price adjustment could reduce out‑of‑county demand while preserving margin and resource longevity.

Next steps proposed to council: allow a proof‑of‑value rental test for rip‑rap production; continue planning and permitting for the plant move and shop construction (engineers are on site), and evaluate financing options (enterprise‑fund cash vs. bond) for land acquisition and major pit equipment.