The president of the company that operates a controversial batch plant in the predominately Black community of Joppa says it is stopping production June 26.
Austin Bridge and Road President Richard Mills confirmed that date on Friday.
The plant has been the epicenter of controversy for years. Joppa residents and environmental activists say the plant is polluting the community鈥檚 air, leading to health issues 鈥� and is not a problem other community in Dallas have to deal with.
四虎影院 reported in early May on the millions being paid to the asphalt company by the City of Dallas 鈥� Joppa residents and environmental activists say they had no idea. Eric Schranz, a manager with Austin Bridge and Road, told 四虎影院 in a May 12 statement that the company planned to move, but did not say when.
鈥淲e have informed city officials of our intention to urgently move Austin Bridge and Road鈥檚 operations from the current location鈥ur plans remain the same and efforts to relocate are underway,鈥� Schranz said in the statement.
Community members and Dallas officials say Austin Bridge and Road indicated last year they would be moving the plant out of Joppa.
鈥淚 offered to have the real estate department and the economic development department to work with them to see what we could to do assist them to relocate,鈥� District 7 Council Member Adam Bazaldua said in an interview with 四虎影院 in April.
Shortly after a raucous meeting in early April, where Joppa residents were told by Dallas city officials that they needed proof of environmental issues, city officials found the plant to be out of compliance.
Despite saying they would move 鈥� and the city violations 鈥� the company still moved through the permitting process and applied to postpone a public hearing over the plant's permit with the city.
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