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The Polk County Environmental Service Committee (ESC) held a public hearing June 1 at the Justice Center Community room in Balsam Lake to consider a CUP (conditional use permit) to establish a trap rock quarry in the Town of Osceola. The CUP application was submitted to Polk County by landowners Glyn and Cindy Thorman, James and Jeanne Rochford and Mike and Laura Loescher on behalf of the Blue Rock Quarry.
There were approximately 17 people who requested to speak during public testimony on June 1. Due to time restraints, approximately seven people had the opportunity. The ESC adjourned on June 1. Another public hearing was scheduled for June 29, 2022. The remaining individuals that requested to speak will be given the opportunity at the next scheduled hearing.
Our reporting last week covered the first portion of the hearing and focused on an introduction given by Polk County Zoning Administrator Jason Kjeseth. Kjeseth discussed the background of a previous application and reasons it was denied in 2009. He then discussed the contents of the current CUP application submitted to the County.
This week’s article is a review of Kjeseth’s presentation and contains part of the public testimony that was heard that day.
During the public hearing Kjeseth explained that the new application is requesting 10 acres in 10 years to start. Future growth would entail 30 acres over 30 years.
Ryan McGinnis of Dresser spoke in support of the Blue Rock Quarry in the Town of Osceola.
“Seems to be a lot of concerns about the quarry,” said Brian McGinnis, resident of Dresser, “I live next to Dresser Trap Rock (DTR), the biggest quarry in Polk County. The noise, property values, pollution and increased traffic seem to be the biggest concerns. The noise I hear at my house is well under the sound that an air conditioner or furnace makes, it is actually very quiet. We don’t hear blasting, the only thing you hear is the processing of rock. The rock is a hard sought after rock that our area has the ability to produce for many different states. You can hear the faintest echo of processor,” he said, “As far as concerns about water contamination and pollution, there is a filtering process that water goes through so that it is safe for drinking, and a lot of those products are built in the St. Croix area.”
“If you take a look at it from economic standpoint it is a good opportunity to create jobs especially after the catastrophe due to Covid, businesses didn’t survive or had to downsize,” McGinnis added.
“You hear a lot about the opposition and that’s okay to bring forth concerns, but you don’t hear about the potential.”
McGinnis then highlighted that Blue Rock Quarry has met opposition at every turn and at all levels and they are offering mitigation measures due to concerns. “I understand people’s concerns about quality of life, property values noise and other fears. We may not like the slight increase in traffic but I support them in using their property and going through the process for CUP to conduct a type of business that already exists in our area.”
Osceola resident Bob Wright spoke in opposition of the trap rock mine. Wright explained that he served as Supervisor for the Town of Osceola and also served on the Planning Commission. All together Wright served the Town of Osceola for 14 years, “Today I speak only for myself,” he said.
During his testimony Wright summarized the Town of Osceola’s review of Kraemer application from 2008 and he compared the differences between Dresser Trap Rock and Blue Rock Quarry. Wright discussed items in the previous application and contents of the current application. Wright also presented information about housing densities, land use compatibility and other concerns related to a trap rock quarry.
Wright explained that activities would include: drilling, blasting, crushing, washing and heavy vehicles on site and on the roads. He raised concerns about the number of residential homes within a certain mile radius that could potentially be affected by the quarry. For example, Wright used data from the county and overlayed the information on a map of the proposed quarry site. According to Wright, within a three-quarter mile radius 117 homes would be affected and approximately 180 homes within one-mile of the proposed location would be affected.
“The proposed activity conflicts with both the Town and the County’s current comprehensive plans and based on housing densities the surrounding land is not compatible as conditional use.”
“The Town made a significant and good faith effort to review that original application in 2008. We consulted with experts, logged over 600 hours reviewing the application and spent $16,000. Based on all that work, the recommendation was to deny the application,” said Wright, “The reason for denial were detailed and based on substantial reasons. Overall we knew the impact to the Town would be negative.”
“In October of 2009 the Board considered the following information regarding the proposed quarry operation, which is subject to the revised SEP (special exception permit) application, Wright said. “The following items were taken into consideration: noise, dust, truck traffic, private well concerns, incompatible land use concerns, residential density and finally incompatibility with the 1998 Land Use Plan.”
The Town Board also reviewed the Polk County Zoning code which establishes criteria for review of SEP and provides that any approval shall be based upon such evidence…tending to show the desirability and undesirability of the public interest because of factors such as: smoke, dust, noxious and toxic gases and odors, noise, vibrations, operation of heavy equipment, heavy vehicular traffic and increased traffic.
At that time the Town found the SEP should be denied because the proposed quarry use will create undesirable conditions as listed above. The Board of Supervisors found that the above reasons for recommending the Land Information committee deny the proposed SEP application are supported in the record and further finds the proposed application would be contrary to the public health, safety and welfare. Therefore, based on the findings the Town Board recommended that Polk County Land Information committee deny the application.
Prior to the hearing, the Blue Rock Quarry group submitted documentation to address the concerns expressed in the Town Summary report that denied the original application. The documentation submitted on behalf of Blue Rock Quarry provides mitigation measures to those issues and concerns. The new application includes some conditions that the applicants are willing to comply by.
New mitigation measures suggested by Blue Rock are as follows: no night or weekend operation. Operation would take place between March 15 and Nov. 15. Hours of operation would be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday (exception for possible rail car loading). Other mitigation measures include: 16” berms to the north and as needed for noise mitigation, creating a water settling basin constructed for run-off and processing water and reclamation plans will be provided.
The site would be a 1300-foot active quarry minimum distance to any residence. The quarry depth will be at or above the surface grade of Lotus Lake and above any area wells. The request is for an initial 10-year period. Limited trucks will be used and primarily scheduled over three county highway routes.
Testimony will conclude June 29. Polk County could make a decision that day or a decision can be delayed.
No additional evidence or requests for public comment will be accepted. The evidence submitted prior to June 1 is the evidence that creates public record and is what Polk County will base their decision on.
The number of people requesting to speak during public testimony was reduced to approximately 10. These individuals will have an opportunity to speak on June 29. If they are unable to attend in person, they can submit their testimony in writing.
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