Author: Kara

Ormond Road testing began today (April 8, 2026) with drilling activity being done by vehicles marked TYME Engineering and DLZ. This appears to be related to testing whether Ormond Road can be upgraded or reinforced to handle Class A road weights, including fully loaded gravel trains. That matters because Ormond Road is currently a Class

In Springfield Township’s April 9, 2026 board meeting packet, an estimate for Ramboll’s review of the Levy/Burroughs mining application is now visible to the public. The packet also include an official memo from Supervisor Ric Davis stating that he worked with the Ramboll project team to refine the proposal and attached “the breakdown of reviews

Wetlands are some of the most important and often misunderstood parts of our landscape. On the proposed sand and gravel mining site along Ormond Road in Springfield Township, they are also one of the most significant environmental features. According to the submitted site plan and wetland delineation performed in 2002, the property contains dozens of

Last night, I attended the Township meeting with the intention of communicating my concerns in a respectful and thoughtful manner. I was interrupted several times by Supervisor Davis during my public comment. As a result, my concluding sentence went several seconds over my allotted 3 minutes. I was attempting to let the board members know

Springfield Township posted correspondence dated January 9, 2026, from Reuben Maxbauer (Government & Real Estate Relations for Levy) regarding the planned installation of an exploratory well. As discussions continue around the proposed sand and gravel mining operation, the term aquifer is frequently referenced. With test well installation expected soon, this is an important opportunity to

Township statements claiming that the retained experts produced “no deliverables” at recent Township meetings are false and directly contradicted by the public record. Despite clear, on-the-record acknowledgments that the experts completed a preliminary review and submitted written identification of data gaps, Township leadership publicly told residents and the Planning Commission that the experts had produced

Same Data, Different Picture:How the Resource Protection Overlay District Got Lost in Plain Sight One of the most important environmental designations on this site is the Resource Protection Overlay District. It identifies areas where development and disturbance are restricted due to sensitive natural features (such as wetlands, lakes, etc.). In theory, this designation should be

The recent survey sent out by Springfield Township Supervisor, Ric Davis, on evaluating possible environmental consulting firms to review the BMC/Levy SLUP permit application has been framed as a way to ‘give residents a voice in this process’. That narrative is echoed by Davis supporters as a way for residents to provide their ‘opinions &

The Township Supervisor has recently posted on the township website a public survey in the form of a Consultant Evaluation Worksheet related to the selection of an independent environmental and engineering consultant for review of the proposed mining project. According to the survey, the purpose of this worksheet is to gather individual perspectives and identify

Date: January 28, 2026 To: Springfield Township Supervisor Ric Davis; Springfield Township Board of Trustees; Springfield Township Planning Commission; Members of the Fact-Finding Committee; Springfield Township Counsel, Greg Need; Special Counsel, Gerald Fischer; Springfield Township Residents From: Kara Okonewski, Springfield Township Resident, Member of the Fact-Finding Committee,  To the Officials and Residents of Springfield Township, I

The word ‘transparency’ has been used a lot in this process, but it’s important to pause and consider what it truly means. Transparency isn’t just about information being shared; it’s about information being accessible, complete, and independently verifiable. That kind of transparency can be an uncomfortable process because it invites questions, differing interpretations, and multiple