WAUPACA COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING
MINUTES –November 1, 2012
ON-SITE INSPECTION: The Committee made an on-site inspection on October 18, 2012 on the Gerald A. & Susan M. Tellock and Roger E. & Geraldine Henschel property, Town of Union.
Chm. Penney called the meeting to order at: 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: J. Penney, D. Kussmann, T. Murphy, R. Ellis and D. Federwitz, all present.
D. Kussmann moved and D. Federwitz seconded the motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was carried.
PUBLIC HEARING:
The first public hearing was called to order at 6:32 p.m. by Chm. Penney for Gerald A. & Susan M. Tellock and Roger E. & Geraldine Henschel, located in the SE ¼ of Sec. 13, Town of Union, lying along Dennison Road, Waupaca County, Wisconsin; for a Conditional Use Permit application for a Non-Metallic Mineral Extraction in an AE (Agriculture Enterprise) District on approximately 160 acres. Roll call was taken with the following members present: J. Penney, D. Kussmann, T. Murphy, R. Ellis and D. Federwitz, all present. The Committee, Ryan Brown, Planning and Zoning Director and Jean Gliniecki, Zoning Administrator made an on-site inspection of the property on October 18, 2012. Vice-Chm. Kussmann read the general procedure and Chm. Penney declared it a legal hearing.
The following representatives spoke for informational purposes and were sworn in to testify. Michael Koles, UW-Extension Community Development Educator; David Thiel, Waupaca County Economic Development Executive Director; Scott Konkle, Reclamation Specialist with East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission; and Ryan Brown, Waupaca County Planning and Zoning Director.
Attorney Steve Sorenson was sworn in to testify. Mr. Sorenson said he represents A. F. Gelhar Co. Inc. Mr. Sorenson gave a history of his experience. Mr. Sorenson said that A. F. Gelhar Co. Inc. has been in the sand mine industry for many years and explained the sand mine operation.
Robert Glen was sworn in to testify. Mr. Glen said he is a public health professional with a background in occupational lung diseases. Mr. Glen explained types of lung disease and exposure in the community.
Jim Rabideau was sworn in to testify. Mr. Rabideau said he works with A.F. Gelhar Co. Inc. environmental strategies as the point lead for all the environmental work. Mr. Rabideau explained reclamation, stormwater and dust planning.
Paula Leier-Engelhardt was sworn in to testify. Ms. Englehardt said she is a Hydro geologist with Hydro Geo Solutions. Ms. Englehardt explained the possible effects of a high capacity well on surrounding wells.
WAUPACA COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES –
November 1, 2012
Jay McKeefry was sworn in to testify. Mr. McKeefry said he is the general contractor with Schuh Construction for A. F. Gelhar Co. Inc. Mr. McKeefry discussed the noise concerns with the sand mine equipment and solutions.
Joey Leonard was sworn in to testify. Mr. Leonard said he is with Human Resources for Waupaca Foundry. Mr. Leonard said Waupaca Foundry's goal is to secure long term supply to continue to provide jobs for Waupaca County.
John Wiesbrock was sworn in to testify. Mr. Wiesbrock said he is the Vice President of the supply chain for Waupaca Foundry. Mr. Wiesbrock said that Waupaca Foundry needs the raw materials to make the goods that they sell.
Bryant Esch was sworn in to testify. Mr. Esch said he is the Environmental Coordinator for Waupaca Foundry. Mr. Esch said that the basis of Waupaca Foundry is the recycling of foundry sand on job sites and 95% of fee stock is scrap metal.
Chm. Penney called three times for any testimony in favor to the application.
Jeremy Ohm was sworn in to testify. Mr. Ohm said he co-owns New Construction and Maintenance and has been contracting with A.F. Gelhar Co. Inc. Mr. Ohm feels that A.F. Gehlar Co. Inc. is a safe and environmentally conscious company and would be an asset to any location which it does business.
Jerry Jorgenson was sworn in to testify. Mr. Jorgenson said he is a resident of the area of the proposed mine and he is in favor of the application. Mr. Jorgenson said that his family had land purchased from A.F. Gelhar Co. Inc and that prior to selling the land his family toured and researched mines.
Randy Faulks was sworn in to testify. Mr. Faulks said he is with Faulks Bros. Construction of Waupaca. Mr. Faulks said manufacturing plays a vital role in this County with economic development, further employment, and sand is a significant component for the foundry industry.
(Inaudible) was sworn in to testify. Mr.-------------said he is a lifelong resident of the Town of Union and works at the foundry as a certified vertical molding operator. Mr.------------- said he is in favor of the sand mine to provide the sand to help continue the growth of the foundry.
Jason Hintzke was sworn in to testify. Mr. Hintzke said he is on the Board of Directors for Wisconsin Water Well Association. Mr. Hintzke said he has worked with A.F. Gelhar Co. Inc. for over 20 years and has had no problem with sand mines.
Ray Tellock was sworn in to testify. Mr. Tellock said he owns the 80 acres on the south side of the proposed 160 acre sand mine site. Mr. Tellock said he is not opposed to the sand mine because it will provide jobs and sand to the foundry of Waupaca.
Eric Peterson was sworn in to testify. Mr. Peterson said he is from Marion equipment and is a supplier for A.F. Gelhar Co. Inc. Mr. Peterson said that A.F. Gelhar Co. Inc. is the cleanest and safest of any quarry that he goes into and recommends approval of the permit.
WAUPACA COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES –
November 1, 2012
Terry Johnson was sworn in to testify. Mr. Johnson said he has been in the quarry and mining industry for 20 years on the explosive side and is in favor of the mine.
Chm. Penney called three times for any testimony in opposition to the application.
Deanna Hannigan was sworn in to testify. Ms. Hannigan said her family has a farm that's been in the family for five generations close to the proposed mine site. Ms. Hannigan said that the Union Township Comprehensive Plan 2030 reflects the public citizen's plan and should be used as guidance for industrial mining.
Helene Pohl was sworn in to testify. Ms. Pohl said she is a resident of Ogdensberg. Ms. Pohl said that she was involved in the Comprehensive Planning and gave a presentation regarding the Town of Union's Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Pohl also pointed out the Comprehensive Plan's protection plan for property owners.
Ramona Danke was sworn in to testify. Ms. Danke said her family was born and raised on that land. Ms. Danke said she has concerns regarding the land disturbance, groundwater, blasting, operation hours and settling ponds.
Larry Danke was sworn in to testify. Mr. Danke said he is married to Ramona and lives in the area. Mr. Danke has concerns with health issues and property values.
John Ashby was sworn in to testify. Mr. Ashby said he has been a resident of Wisconsin for 29 years and prior to that he lived in a steel town. Mr. Ashby said he is concerned with the land disturbance effects.
Elwood Engle was sworn in to testify. Mr. Engle said he is retired from the Department of Natural Resources and was assigned to work on the Tellock hill natural area. Mr. Engle explained the lands usage regarding the natural environment.
Jane Peterson was sworn in to testify. Ms. Peterson said she lives in Scandinavia Township. Ms. Peterson said she is concerned with possible health issues as a result of the sand mine.
Tim Maas was sworn in to testify. Mr. Maas said he is a resident of the Town of Union and acting Vice President of Shawano/Waupaca chapter of Trout Unlimited. Mr. Mass said he is concerned with the safety and health of his children and area residents with an industrial sand mine in the area.
Kelly Ramstack was sworn in to testify. Ms. Ramstack said she lives on Hillside Rd in the Town of Union. Ms. Ramstack discussed the zoning of the land and the uses according to the ordinance and comprehensive plan.
Clyde Tellock was sworn in to testify. Mr. Tellock said his property is within 200 feet of the proposed site. Mr. Tellock said he is opposed to the proposed mine and that the comprehensive plan is to preserve agricultural land.
WAUPACA COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES –
November 1, 2012
Mary Ann Letten was sworn in to testify. Ms. Letten said she lives near the proposed mine site. Ms. Letten submitted 191 signatures on a petition opposed to the proposed mine site.
Tania Wadzinski was sworn in to testify. Ms. Wadzinski said she resides on County Rd N in Manawa. Ms. Wadzinski presented information regarding the effects of noise and possible economic development.
Carol Elvery was sworn in to testify. Ms. Elvery said that she lives in the City of Waupaca. Ms. Elvery said she was concerned about the lights and noise and the impact on people and animals and feels that there are other resources for sand.
Jacob Chapeau was sworn in to testify. Mr. Chapeau said that the restoration will not be in his lifetime and therefore will not be an advantage to him or the other residents. Mr. Chapeau said he also has concerns with the unknown consequences of a mine.
Brad Millikin was sworn in to testify. Mr. Millikin said he owns 270 acres in the Town of Union. Mr. Millikin said that he feels more data is needed on the holding ponds, groundwater and high water wells.
Colleen Phelan was sworn in to testify. Ms. Phelan said that her family lives about four miles from the proposed mine site. Ms. Phelan said that not enough information is known to make a decision and more data needs to be compiled as to the effects of the sand mine.
Marcella Wentworth was sworn in to testify. Ms. Wentworth said she lives on an organic dairy farm in the Town of Union. Ms. Wentworth said that application for the sand mine is incomplete, the property should be rezoned to RI-I (Rural Industrial-Intensive) and that the proposed operation is inconsistent with the Town's comprehensive plan.
Robert Phelan was sworn in to testify. Mr. Phelan said he has concerns with the high capacity well, wastewater flowing into the Little Wolf River, environmental destruction, chemicals and machinery contaminating groundwater.
Carol Peterson was sworn in to testify. Ms. Peterson said she lives off of 110 about a half mile from the proposed site. Ms. Peterson said she talked with people that lived near sand mines and their experience.
Jacob Lerminar was sworn in to testify. Mr. Lerminar said he is a student at the University of Wisconsin of Stevens Point and is pursuing a degree in water resources. Mr. Lerminar said he is concerned with the future of the soils and water.
Angela Williamson-Emmert was sworn in to testify. Ms. Wiliamson-Emmert said she lives on Ferg Rd in the Town of Union. Ms. Williamson-Emmert compared the differences of farming and sand mine operation.
Christian Ramstack was sworn in to testify. Mr. Ramstack said he lives on Hillside Rd in the Town of Union. Mr. Ramstack said he requests a no vote on the conditional use application and a moratorium on sand mining be adopted by Waupaca County.
WAUPACA COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES –
November 1, 2012
Kelly Hamilton was sworn in to testify. Ms. Hamilton said she lives in the Town of Bear Creek. Ms. Hamilton said she enjoys the country living and feels the sand mine would affect the wildlife and farming.
George Letten was sworn in to testify. Mr. Letten said he lives on Highway 22 close to the proposed sand mine site. Mr. Letten said that he feels the sand mine would affect the Little Wolf River.
Myrtle Kutchenriter was sworn in to testify. Ms. Kutchenriter said she lives on Dennison Rd, 107 feet from the proposed sand mine site and is concerned about property values.
Dan Hansen was sworn in to testify. Mr. Hansen said he lives on Bear Creek Rd. Mr. Hansen said that he does not think this is the proper location for the sand mine because of the farmland and natural resources.
Attorney Steve Sorenson came back for rebuttal. Mr. Sorenson said that the proposed mine will not be a frac mine. Mr. Sorenson talked about the production of the mine and the proposed plan.
B. Glen discussed occupational studies of diseases related to exposure to silica sand.
J. Rabideau discussed the recycling of water in regards to the settling and stormwater ponds.
S. Sorenson said that the Waupaca Foundry needs the sand and A.F Gelhar would sign agreements to protect the wells, roads and reasonable conditions.
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D. Kussmann moved and R. Ellis seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 1:00 a.m. The motion was carried.
The Committee adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Ellis, Secretary
Waupaca County Planning & Zoning Committee
cc: County Clerk
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