Conditional use permit for new quarry leads to questions from one supervisor

The Winneshiek County Board has approved a conditional use permit for Wiltgen Construction for a new quarry along HIghway 24 near Fort Atkinson.  The vote came Monday morning to approve the permit 4-1.

Supervisor Bill Ibanez was the lone dissenting vote.  He said questions had been raised during the public hearing on the permit about requiring a bond to cover damages caused by blasting; to require a pond for water runoff; to set up seismographs to measure shock waves; and to require riprap for erosion control.

County Planning & Zoning Administrator Tony Phillips said those steps were outlined by Wiltgen Construction in its project plan.  Ibanez countered that without putting those requirements in the conditional use permit, the county would be left without recorse if future problems occurred.  Phillips said the conditional use permitting process largely is required so a public hearing will be held to give neighbors a chance to voice concerns.  Phillips said two neighbors spoke at the public hearing, but he characterized their statements as "not critical" of the application.