County board asks for study of frac sand moratorium

Winneshiek County supervisors voted 4-0 Monday in favor of a resolution asking the county's Planning & Zoning Commission to provide input on whether a moratorium should be placed on commercial frac sand mining operations.

The resolution asks the P & Z Commission for its recommendation on whether a moratorium is needed to give county officials time to study the impact such an operation would have in Winneshiek County.

Planning and Zoning Commission member Wendy Stevens told supervisors "I would welcome a moratorium...so we could make decisions on a comprehensive basis, rather than a case-by-case basis."  But County Zoning Administrator Tony Phillips asked supervisors what result they wanted from a moratorium and whether there would be funding and technical expertise to help in any study.

Supervisor Dean Thompson suggested the Commission study how surrounding counties have handled the frac sand mining zoning issue.  The resolution prepared by supervisors mentions the heavy truck traffic and possible groundwater impacts of commercial sand mining.

Decorah resident Steve Mc Cargar suggested that any regulations would be "a question of balance," trying to strike a balance between protecting the interests of commercial sand mining interests and the interests of the community.

For a copy of the county board's resolution, click on the link below.