Shaken Foundations: WINK investigates claims of home damage and ‘conflict of interest’ at Collier County mine

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.(WINK) — For families in Golden Gate Estates, the dream of quiet rural living is being interrupted by a jarring reality: the ground beneath their feet, they say, won't stop moving.

Residents living near the 846 Mine off Immokalee Road say years of blasting have left their homes riddled with cracks and their families living anxiously. Now, a proposed expansion could bring those explosions even closer to their front doors.

"Like a Pirate Ship"

For retired firefighter Robert Dixon, the sensation of a blast is unmistakable.

"When you’re home and your house starts to wobble like a pirate ship out on the open seas... you’re like, ‘Whoa, what is going on here?’" Dixon said. 

He isn't alone. During our WINK Listens event in Immokalee last month, multiple neighbors described the same terrifying experience.

Cameron Buckles told WINK Investigates that the vibrations are so intense his young daughter runs to him in a panic. "It feels like your house is a rocket ship that’s getting ready to take off," Buckles said.

The Damage Report

While the mine—operated by Quality Enterprises in partnership with billionaire developer Jeff Greene, who owns the land —maintains it follows all state and local regulations. Residents showed WINK News physical evidence they said shows a different story. Dixon showed us multiple cracks across his home that he is convinced were caused by blasting at the mine.

While Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander was interviewing Dixon, his neighbor, Harald Hussman called him over to his home. He showed Nylander many cracks on the exterior of his home and on the interior, where a large crack ran across his floor tiles for almost the entire length of the floor. 

Hussman showed Nylander a sensor placed outside his home. He said the mine had a third-party company install it about two years ago. The sensor, he said, monitors the power of the blasting activity but the readings are a mystery to him.

“They never give us the reading," he said. 

The Expansion Conflict

The 846 Mine is currently seeking to expand its boundaries. If approved, blasting would occur within a quarter-mile of residential properties.

At a 2024 Collier County Planning Commission hearing, the mine's land-use attorney, Richard Yovanovich, stood by the company's record. "The science shows we are doing what’s required," Yovanovich stated. "We will not create a problem if we expand the boundaries."

The Planning Commission approved the proposal from the mine but it has yet to go before the County Commissioners for final approval; the process is in limbo.

A Question of Interest

The frustration of the residents is compounded by what they perceive as a "pay-to-play" environment. Dixon told us he doesn't trust his County representative, Commissioner William McDaniel, because he previously held a high-level position with the mine. Nylander interviewed McDaniel and questioned him about that perceived conflict of interest.

McDaniel told WINK Investigates that he left his position with the mine nearly a decade ago to avoid any conflicts.

“I don’t have any conflict whatsoever," McDaniel said.

Dixon and Buckles told Nylander they do not believe the County itself can be objective due to ongoing business with Quality Enterprises. WINK Investigates reviewed over six months of disbursement reports filed by Collier County, showing it paid Quality Enterprises over $11.5 million for infrastructure projects in just that six-month period going to the end of 2025.

"Collier County is a customer of this mining company. Why would they listen to us?" Buckles asked.

Commissioner McDaniel acknowledges the residents' pain, but he points to the necessity of the mine's product for the growth of the county.

"Aggregate touches us all every day—the roads we drive on, the buildings we sit in," McDaniel said.

As far as damage claims, he said the residents' only option at this point is to file civil lawsuits if they choose to. 

What's Next?

The expansion proposal is currently in limbo. Commissioner McDaniel stated he would not support the move without a "third-party bond" specifically designated to pay for proven damages to local homes.

He said his understanding is that the company has $500,000 cash secured to meet that bond. Dixon questions that arrangement and believes the bond should be formally secured by a third-party bond issuing company.

WINK Investigates reached out to Jeffrey Greene and Quality Enterprises multiple times over the past month. Those inquiries went unanswered. An operations manager at the mine told Chorus Nylander he was "instructed to say no comment."

As of now, the expansion has not been set for a final vote before the County Commission.

WINK Investigates will keep you updated as we learn more.