"New focus" for Winneshiek County Protectors

The Winneshiek County Protectors organization has changed its focus in its fight against frac sand mining.

Spokesperson Dick Jansen told Winneshiek County supervisors Monday that his group is not worried about an appropriate ordinance passing the county board as the 18-month moratorium against frac sand mining expires.  Rather, said Jansen, "The real danger...is state preemption."

Jansen outlined the possibilities for local control by county supervisors, saying that such an approach could lead to zoning overlays that prevented certain types of activities, such as frac sand mining.  But Jansen stressed the need to work within "the constitutional framework" of state laws.  That would require Winneshiek County to set forth findings of fact and to show how its zoning ordinance and zoning overlays followed those statements.

They key, said Jansen, is for the county to act on this issue now--to prevent state interference.  "Why would the state need to get involved with this?" he asked.