After attending the Burlington Planning and Zoning Meeting on June 25, I left feeling uneasy about the "temporary portable hot mix asphalt plant" being proposed.

Dozens of residents spoke out against the plant and our concerns must have struck a chord with three of the members who voted against the proposal. Unfortunately that isn't the end of it. The proposal, which was approved by the Racine County Board the week before, will get the final vote by the Burlington Town Board on July 23.

Residents raised important considerations about air and water quality. Bohners Lake is only one nautical mile away from the proposed site for the asphalt plant and it is in the direct path of the constant westerly winds. Toxic chemicals will pollute the air. A brain surgeon from Bohners Lake expressed that contaminated fumes even at one-fourth of a percent are dangerous enough to cause brain tumors and cancer. I have read articles about residents living near similar asphalt plants in other areas of the United States who developed upper respiratory complications within six months of the plant's operation.

To the point of one of the members of the planning commission - yes, we Burlington town residents are typical of those who say, "not in our backyard." We have many concerns beyond just our health. What will happen to the lake water when it becomes contaminated? What will it do to the fish and the ecology of the lake? What will happen to wildlife in the area? Our natural resources are precious. We can't get them back once they've been damaged. We can't get our health back once it's been destroyed. These are serious risks that we as citizens are not willing to take.

Noise pollution and road safety are concerns for residents, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists who travel along County Highway P. Lower property values are a huge concern since they're proven to have dropped in other areas of the country where similar asphalt plants operate.

B.R. Amon & Sons interests are profitability and convenience. Amon admitted this will benefit only his company - not the Town or City of Burlington. I wonder why it's being tacked on to the gravel pit proposal that was passed as being "temporary," but committee members have since realized isn't temporary after all. If the asphalt plant is passed, it will be renewed. If it's renewed enough times, it won't be temporary any more.

There are 3,200 households in the Town of Burlington. We have families. We are homeowners. We are taxpayers. We all live here for the same reason - quality of life. Amon & Sons hasn't built a "portable" asphalt plant yet. Amon & Sons can build it elsewhere.

Christine Schultz has worked for 20 years in marketing and has been a resident of Bohners Lake for the past four years.