Tidwell delays ruling on asphalt plant injunction

Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell said Monday he would announce a decision within the next few days on a petition to stop operations at an asphalt plant on John Bragg Hwy.

The petition seeking an injunction was filed by local attorney Nathan Luna against Hawkins Asphalt Paving, which recently began operations at the facility.

Tidwell said following a hearing on the petition in Cannon County Chancery Court that he would issue a written order as to whether Luna had standing to request the injunction as well as the granting of the injunction itself.

During Monday's hearing an attorney representing Hawkins, Josh McCreary of Hudson, Reed and McCreary in Murfreesboro, argued Luna did not have standing in the case because he is not a public official.

McCreary also argued an injunction, if granted, would cost Hawkins Asphalt Paving approximately $67,000 per day in lost revenue.

Luna is seeking to have operations ceased at the plant because, he argues, its location is in violation of the Scenic Highway Act.

Additional information will be posted at CannonCourier.com and printed in the Sept. 4 print edition as it becomes available.