San Gabriel Valley : IT’S THE PITS
In a closed session, the Irwindale City Council will discuss tonight whether to take a recent appeals court ruling to the California Supreme Court, city officials said.
The 2nd District state Court of Appeal said this month that the city of Irwindale could not prevent a quarry operator from digging deeper into gravel pits, reversing an earlier decision by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.
United Rock first took the city to court in November 1994 after the City Council voted to overturn the planning department’s decision to allow the Irwindale company to dig 125 feet beyond the 150-foot limit.
The council’s decision was upheld at the trial court level, but overturned Jan. 10 in appeals court.
If the City Council decides to take the issue to the state Supreme Court, United Rock will pursue a lawsuit it filed against Irwindale for $95 million in damages, a company official said.
City Council members would not comment on the issue before the meeting.
“It has to go under the advisement of the city attorney,” Councilman Joe Tapia said.
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