After months of talking about the need to have an independent geological assessment of whether or not—and if so how—the proposed Luck Stone quarry site would affect the quantity and quality of water in Mottley Lake, Farmville’s town council authorized hiring a geologist for such expert analysis.

The Town is perfectly justified in mining that vital information and the decision should not be viewed as a negative reaction to the quarry proposal but, instead, the exercise of due diligence by Town officials.

Mottley Lake was purchased by the Town as an insurance policy against the effects of a devastating drought. The lake’s spring-fed water would be directed into the Appomattox River, in such an emergency, where it would flow downstream into Farmville’s water treatment plant.

Of course there should be an independent analysis, which may, yes, lead to no set-in-stone conclusion. Too much is at stake not to seek the most complete picture possible. Nor is the Town unreasonable to discuss, among council members during their October meeting, its hope that Luck Stone Corp. might enter into an agreement for compensation and/or corrective action were the quarry project, on property adjacent to Mottley Lake, ever to have a detrimental impact.

Luck Stone Corp. is an excellent company with a fine reputation and, as such, will certainly understand the Town’s thirst for analysis.

—JKW—