By Jodi Hausen,Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – Several neighbors came to the Planning Board meeting Monday to discuss renewed issues with a log yard on Route 27 just north of town.

The yard, now operated by Jim Brochu for International Paper, has seen several operators since its expansion was approved by the board as directed by a court order in 2001. The expansion, from 2.9 to 5.8 acres, was approved with several stipulations, including maintenance of quiet zone signs, no idling or early arriving trucks, set operating hours of from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, and appropriate dust mitigation.

Abutters complained Monday that the noise level has risen significantly in the last several months and that their concerns had not been adequately addressed.

“It’s really quite unbearable even with the doors and windows closed,” abutter Deb Chase said. “It interferes with our everyday life inside and outside,” she added.

She and other abutters said dust from the trucks entering and leaving the yard had not been dealt with adequately either.

Dennis Goulet, representing IP, listened from the back of the room taking notes. Goulet had worked with the log yard previously but had been reassigned. He was recently assigned to handle the operation for the paper company again, which seemed to please abutters, who said they respect Goulet but were worried whether he could maintain a presence there.

Goulet told the board he had not been aware of the dust issue although Mark Andrews, also from IP, said the company had sprayed liquid calcium chloride to mitigate the dust in July. Though the chemical’s supplier said its effects should last several months, neighbors said it was only a few weeks.

Chase said, a former representative from International Paper was also not responsive to their concerns.

“We’ve come to an adversarial relationship” with IP, she said. After numerous conversations, she said neighbors felt that “no issues were addressed nor sincerely heard.”

“I’d like to be treated with respect and not just listened to as if we’re second-class citizens,” she said.

Neighbors seemed satisfied that hours had been changed voluntarily to 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but wanted something done about the noise level during operations.

“We just want to work with the neighbors,” Goulet said.

Changing the way the operation works and the exact location of log piles and the slashing machinery may help mitigate the noise issue. While it appears IP and the neighbors will attempt to settle the issues, Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser said he will research the legalities of his role in enforcing the yard’s permit. In any case, Planning Board members asked neighbors to keep them informed.