TOWN OF COOKS VALLEY
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
September 23, 2014

 

A special town board meeting was called to order by Chairman Darrel Fehr on Tuesday September 23, 2014 at the Cooks Valley Town Hall located at 15784 40th Street at 8:00 pm.  Officers in attendance:  Darrel Fehr-chairman, David Clements-supervisor, Supervisor-John Sykora, and Victoria Trinko-clerk.  See attached list for delegation present.
Review of Preferred Sands Non-Metallic Mining permit with Public Comment:   Chairman Darrel Fehr reported he has not had any complaints; but after touring the mine, Preferred Sands needs to pave up to the scale or do a rumble strip to prevent dust or sand on the road, as a cloud of dust rises when other vehicles goes by.  Chairman Darrel Fehr is very concerned about this matter and failure to address this issue could result in a shutdown of the truck hauling until it was resolved.  Paul McLean reported this item was in his budget but others in the organization axed the money allocated to prevent the sand being dragged onto the road.  Supervisor David Clements inquired if the trees were planted in conjunction with the Gehring’s concerns about light and dust emanating from the mine site.  Silver Poplars have been planted around the buildings on the mine site.  However, the trees are small in stature and will take about 5 years to be effective.  The Gehring’s will plant trees on their fence line.  Rain water is being stored to prevent soil erosion on top of the storage pile and that matter has been taken care of.  Some of the reclamation has been done, but people will be able to see more reclamation in two years.  As the mining comes back to the east, Preferred Sands will be putting material in with a wedge between the mining and the reclaiming.  Supervisor David Clements questioned, “How long does Preferred Sands plan to be mining?”  Paul Mclean estimated mining would continue for 15 -20 years with a new permit to mine the Rogge pit.  Preferred Sands will try to blend the two mines or complete the LaGesse mine and then bring material from the Rogge site to the plant on the LaGesse mine site via a slurry pipe.  Preferred Sands will do an average unit cost on each method before deciding which method to use.  David Clements expressed the main theory of the Town of Cooks Valley board is to observe how the reclamation is progressing and the reality of success before allowing open more area for mining.  Mine companies may not get a permit if they have not started reclaiming successfully and finishing the permitting process.  Paul McLean felt the town would have difficulty denying a permit for further mining in the Town of Cooks Valley.  Supervisor David Clements reminded Paul Mclean that he had expressed the opinion that the Town of Cooks Valley would lose if and when the Town of Cooks Valley had their mining ordinance presented to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. 
Adjourn:  John Sykora made a motion to adjourn at 8:21 pm.  Darrel Fehr seconded the motion.  The motion carried 3-0.

 

 Typed:  October 6, 2014                          Respectfully submitted
 Approved: October 20, 2014                   Victoria Trinko -Town Clerk