Update: Our Continued Legal Action Against the City of Ranson
On July 15, Jefferson County Vision filed an amendment to its 2018 rezoning complaint against the City of Ranson stating plainly what we all already knew. This Amended Complaint for Declaratory Judgement alleges that Ranson violated its 2012 Comprehensive Plan and engaged in illegal and improper zoning on behalf of Rockwool.
The amendment is the latest step in a grassroots effort to stop the inappropriate industrialization of Jefferson County. Despite Ranson correcting procedural errors made in the initial advertising of the zoning ordinance in the summer of 2017—corrections that were ordered by the Court in May 2020—JCV maintains this zoning ordinance is not only illegal and improper, but that special consideration was given for Rockwool’s zoning needs.
We are requesting that the Court declare the subject zoning ordinance changes and zoning map amendments invalid and void as a matter of law.
Timeline: The Fight Against Rockwool
- Nov 28 2021
JCV vs. CITY OF RANSON (REZONING CASE) Summary — On November 5, 2020, Jefferson County Vision (JCV) filed an amended complaint in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County asking for...Jul 13 2021JCV vs. CITY OF RANSON (REZONING CASE) Summary — On November 5, 2020, Jefferson County Vision (JCV) filed an amended complaint in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County asking for...Mar 16 2021JCV vs. CITY OF RANSON (REZONING CASE) Summary — On November 5, 2020, JCV filed an amended complaint in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County asking for Declaratory Judgement and...Nov 30 2020JCV vs. CITY OF RANSON (REZONING CASE) Summary — On November 5, 2020, JCV filed an amended complaint in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County asking for Declaratory Judgement and...Oct 29 2020JCV vs. ROCKWOOL ET AL. (PILOT CASE) Summary — On November 2, 2018 JCV filed the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the PILOT arrangement...Sep 17 2020Investigation Appears to be the First Time U.S. Citizens Have Received Help from the Organization to Protect Against Corporate Violations of International Environmental, Health and Human Rights Standards on U.S....Aug 01 2020
RANSON, W.Va. (August 1, 2020) — On July 31, 2020, one day after Jefferson County Foundation (JCF) released incriminating documentation of ongoing secretive arrangements between Rockwool and the West Virginia...Jul 16 2020RANSON, W.Va. (July 16, 2020) — Jefferson County Vision (JCV) filed an Amended Complaint for Declaratory Judgment in the Rezoning case against the City of Ranson on July 15, 2020....Jun 24 2020Ranson, W.Va (June 24, 2020) — The Ranson City Council has decided that their approval of the Zoning Ordinance wasn't proper. According to an announcement from Ranson City Manager Tony ...Jun 22 2020
RANSON, W.Va. (June 22, 2020) — Citizens of Jefferson County and the surrounding area will gather for a physically distanced rally of no more than 100 people around Ranson City...Jun 04 2020Take Action The City of Ranson is seeking to correct mistakes it made in 2017 when the city rezoned portions of the Jefferson Orchards property to industrial use, which benefited...May 15 2020RANSON, W.Va. (May 15, 2020) — The City of Ranson is on a fast track to correct mistakes it made in 2017 when the city rezoned portions of the Jefferson...May 08 2020RANSON, W.Va. (May 8, 2020) — Jefferson County Vision (JCV) called upon the City of Ranson to revoke Rockwool’s building permit immediately. A cease work request was delivered today to...May 06 2020Jefferson County Vision (JCV) holds Ranson accountable for their unlawful attempt to limit public notice on the Rockwool project CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. (May 6, 2020) — On May 5, Jefferson...May 01 2020On April 5 JCV sent this letter to the Jefferson County Department of Health (DOH) detailing concerns around ongoing construction at the Rockwool-Ranson construction site and Covid-19. Dr. Reidy wrote...Apr 10 2020Feb 14 2020
JCV vs. ROCKWOOL ET AL. (PILOT CASE) Summary — On November 2, 2018 JCV filed the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the PILOT arrangement...Jan 05 2020
On January 3, 2020, Jefferson County Foundation hosted a Community Forum on Rockwool at Shepherd University. The at-capacity crowd heard local scientists present their concerns regarding the Rockwool facility’s air...Dec 27 2019
On October 21st, a group of civic organizations and elected officials have filed an official complaint against Rockwool with the Danish Mediation and Complaints-Handling Institution for Responsible Business Conduct. The complaint describes...Dec 27 2019Oct 09 2019JCV vs. ROCKWOOL ET AL. (PILOT CASE) Summary — On November 2, 2018 JCV filed the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the PILOT arrangement...Sep 16 2019
CHARLES TOWN, WV. Rockwool is building its factory without a valid Building Permit, because there is no valid plan for sewer service. The first rule of construction permitting: for work...Aug 25 2019
Learn and Preserve: Jefferson County Regional Water SymposiumHosted by the Rural Agricultural Defenders (RAD)September 28, 2019, 9:00 am -3:00 pm at the Clarion Inn in Harpers Ferry, WV.This single day...Aug 22 2019
Delegate John DoyleDelegate Sammi BrownDelegate Paul EspinosaSenator Patricia RuckerSenator John UngerOriginal Letter Attached to EmailTo Our State and Local Leadership, Public participation is an important and required aspect of the environmental...Aug 10 2019
CHARLES TOWN, WV. Jefferson County Vision (JCV) cheered yesterday’s Circuit Court ruling which declared the multi-million dollar Rockwool PILOT “is not an enforceable agreement.” Rockwool and its supporters have...Aug 08 2019
JCV PILOT CASE RULING RECEIVED Jefferson County Vision has just received the first of two long awaited rulings - the PILOT case. "The Court agrees with the plaintiff's contention that...Jul 23 2019
Mineral wool is made from stone melted in furnaces. Stone is not a recycled or sustainable material. It is extremely energy-intensive to produce and has high embodied energy. The manufacturing process involves on-site fuel...Jul 17 2019
Jefferson County Vision (JCV) and several residents of Charles Town filed a legal request last week in Circuit Court for an order that the City Council follow state law, accept...Jun 28 2019
Dear Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Board of Directors: When the working people of Jefferson County pay our taxes-- a basic civic duty-- we don’t get to put our name...Jun 12 2019Three hours of oral argument before Judge Hammer and a packed gallery in the historic Jefferson County Courthouse on Tuesday brought two of Jefferson County Vision’s cases related to Rockwool—a...May 19 2019
PRESS RELEASE Over 1,500 citizens of Charles Town are, again, demanding that the Charles Town City Council and Building Commission hold a hearing to accept a Protest Petition opposing the...Apr 30 2019Rockwool continues to wield the levers of government power against Jefferson County residents in the company’s quest to build a megafactory next to local schools.The latest outrage is an overreach...Apr 24 2019According to state law, Charles Town must accept the sewer bond petition.View the letter (.pdf)Apr 01 2019Rockwool is a terrible fit for our economy and our health. The plant's 213 foot smokestacks will also ruin historic views across the county. Check out this viewshed map which...Mar 26 2019
CHARLES TOWN, WV. The Public Service Commission (PSC) overruled their own staff recommendation today and declined to intervene or reconsider the Rockwool/Jefferson Utilities water line project.Rockwool announced in January that...Mar 24 2019
Download the request letter, from Dec. 2018 (.pdf)Download CTUB's Feb. 2019 response (.pdf)Mar 17 2019
CHARLES TOWN. Monday night, the City Council may consider a $16 million bond ordinance to fund a Charles Town Utility Board (CTUB) sewer plan built on faulty projections, shady budget...Mar 17 2019It's staggering to witness a board of elected officials ignore the overwhelming outcry against the plan to industrialize a school zone in Jefferson County. We, the people who have come...Mar 16 2019Our Karst geology and widespread well-water means heavy industry in Jefferson County puts our drinking water at risk. Rockwool is still working to mitigate the sinkholes on the Jefferson Orchard...Mar 11 2019March 12, 2019Dear Mr. CTUB Chairman, In anticipation of the Charles Town Utility Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 Jefferson County Vision reviewed the Meeting Agenda Packet posted on...Feb 26 2019February 26, 2019Secretary Austin CapertonWest Virginia Dept of Environmental Protection601 - 57th Street SECharleston, WV 25304Dear Secretary Caperton,I want to make you aware that the Charles Town Utility Board (CTUB)...Feb 24 2019Commissioner Liz McDonald Commissioner William WarrenCommissioner Mary Ellen MahoneyCommissioner Albert GlascockCommissioner Keith Veler Charles Town Building Commission101 East Washington...Feb 07 2019City of Ranson: Route 9 Infrastructure Project, IJDC Sewer Funding Application Package 11/10/17 Emails thread on Sewer Application 11/27/17 IJDC Loan Reassignment IJDC Loan Reassignment JCDA Project Administration RE Project...Jan 23 2019The Jefferson County Board of Education announced today that Gradient Corporation has withdrawn from the health study of the impact of Rockwool on nearby schools.BoE stated: “During this due diligence...Jan 19 2019
Jefferson County Vision has obtained the initial building plans (30% complete) from late March, 2018, and is sharing them with the public for review. Please take a look at fire...Jan 10 2019CHARLES TOWN, WV. In the face of Jefferson County Vision (JCV) litigation against the Jefferson County Development Authority's (JCDA) unlawful waterline plan, Rockwool is abandoning a key part of their...Dec 12 2018LAWSUIT: City of Ranson Failed to Make Required Public Notice When Rezoning for Rockwool SmokestacksCHARLES TOWN, WV. The City of Ranson failed to provide adequate public notice, as required by statute, when it modified both its zoning ordinance and zoning map to permit heavy...Nov 26 2018November 20, 2018Jefferson County Development Authorityc/o Nicolas H. Diehl, Executive Director1948 Wiltshire Road, Suite No. 4Kearneysville, WV 25430 Re: Rockwool Water ProjectDear Mr. Diehl: Please be advised that I...Oct 29 2018Rockwool is a global-scale insulation factory with 21 story smokestacks that will produce toxic emissions. The state and local government are sponsoring Rockwool with tens of millions of dollars in...Oct 27 2018Download the Statement (.pdf)STATEMENT TEXT:To: Senator ManchinFrom: Potomac Valley Audubon SocietyRe: Opposition Statement on Rockwool Plant proposed for Jefferson County, WVThe Potomac Valley Audubon Society (PVAS) has served Berkeley, Jefferson...© 2022 Jefferson County Vision, Inc.
