County Planning & Zoning Commission tables action on quarry conditional permit

A crowd of 90 people attended Tuesday's meeting

The Winneshiek County Planning & Zoning Commission has delayed for one month any action on a conditional use permit for a 43-acre quarry along Canoe Valley Road.

The commission took the action after a four-hour-long meeting Tuesday night that included three hours of testimony at a public hearing.

A crowd of around 90 people raised concerns about the request by property owner Mark Quandahl and materials hauler Garry Wiltgen, who also testified. 

The neighbors raised concerns about traffic, blasting, noise, dust, health impacts and impacts on property values.  Birgitta Meade said the costs of operating the quarry would be paid by "me, my neighbors and especially the children."  Bill Kayser said Middle Hesper Road, which is used by the trucks to reach the quarry, is narrow and winding, with traffic a concern.  Sarah Peterson said she feared for the safety of her children, stating, "This whole route is unsafe--there are too many curves." 

A lengthy discussion was held about the blasting at the quarry, with resident Arne Hengesteg saying the blasting was "a scary thing" to members of his family, but with officials of Olson Explosives giving assurances the blasts have been done safely and have not damaged any surrounding buildings.

Another lengthy discussion involved wells on properties near the quarry.  Larry Cook stated he worried about a neighboring 40 foot well and a few others getting contaminated.  Planning & Zoning Commission members also asked questions about well water contamination.

Neighbors also complained about Wiltgen's request, which stated that up to 150 trucks per day would drive on Canoe Valley Road, creating clouds of dust.

But Quandahl told the audience he had taken steps to make sure the quarry operated correctly, including not using chemicals on the field above the quarry, so they wouldn't drain into the quarry.  And Wiltgen said his company could make phone calls to neighbors to alert them to future blasting.

Following the public hearing, the County Planning and Zoning Commission discussed the matter for one hour.  While P & Z members did not take a vote, the majority of the commission seemed to be leaning to recommending the permit be issued--with several conditions attached.  Commission members felt they needed more time to come up with a list of conditions and to review all the material they were presented in the three-hour public hearing.

Members of the County Planning & Zoning Commission listen to public testimony