County tables proposal for quarry

A plan to allow campsites at City Beach was approved Tuesday, while a decision on a proposal for a rock quarry near Clementson was postponed to July.
The Koochiching County Board voted on four recommendations from the Planning Commission at its meeting Tuesday.
The Koochiching County Board approved in 4-1 vote to allow six campsites with a maximum of two tents each at City Beach. Board Chairman Wade Pavleck voted against the motion.
The board voted 4-1 to table a zone change requested by Bowman Construction for rock quarry mining near Clementson. Commissioner Kallie Briggs voted against the motion.
The board approved unanimously a conditional use permit for Ron Peterson. Peterson is proposing to blast a rock ridge, crush aggregate and sell custom containers. The property is located south of Highway 11 East near the Ranier overpass. The board agreed to request the Koochiching Economic Development Authority revisit the proposed plan of a buffer between the activity and Ranier.
The board approved unanimously a conditional use permit requested by Robyn Hasbargen for a sand and gravel mining operation on 160 acres adjacent to Highway 11 south of Indus.

City Beach
The City Beach committee originally requested six campsites at the beach to be open for camping with tents or RVs.
The Planning Commission recommendation to the county board did not include RVs after several residents living near the beach voiced opposition.
The proposal for campsites at the beach is an attempt to increase use of the beach, beach committee member Gail Rognerud told the county board.
Commissioner Chuck Lepper said he would prefer to see RVs parked in the beach area rather than tents. He said the committee’s plan was well thought out.
Lepper said the campsites are an opportunity for area families to enjoy the lakeshore for a few days. People who live on the lake are “lucky,” he said.
Briggs said she, too, was disappointed RVs were not included. She said the reasons stated by residents for opposing allowing RVs in the beach area were “ridiculous.” RV camping on Rainy Lake is “desperately needed.”
Pavleck, who represents the area around City Beach, said the residents don’t want a campground at City Beach.
Pavleck also questioned the city of International Falls choosing that area for a campground. If the city wants a camping area, it should establish an area within the city limits, Pavleck said.
He also used the example of Clark’s Park as an example of the city not being a “good neighbor” by not keeping up the park. Ownership of Clark’s Park has reverted to relatives of the original owner as a result.
Lepper countered Pavleck’s statement by pointing out that Clark’s Park didn’t have caretakers, which City Beach has 24 hours a day.

Bowman Construction
The county board tabled a motion to approve a zone change for Bowman Construction to allow company officials and residents to discuss the project and concerns further.
Tensions mounted as residents living near Clementson voiced concerns about environmental impacts of a proposed rock quarry. The county board also received a petition opposing the operation.
Carl Bowman, of Bowman Construction, is proposing a rock quarry mining operation that would include blasting and processing for 10 years. The operation would be located west of County Road 89 near Clementson.
Residents are concerned about: wells being affected by drilling; noise generated by crushing and trucks driving to and from the operation; County Road 89 not being able to support the loads of the trucks; and an old access road being blocked by the mining operation.
Also at issue was residents not being notified about the proposal. Residents who live within one mile of the operation were notified about the proposal, but with such great distances between people in that area, most area residents were not notified. Residents at the county board meeting said they heard about the operation a few days ago.
Commissioner Mike Hanson notice of a meeting regarding the proposed zone change was published in The Daily Journal instead of the Baudette Region, which is published nearer the residents of Clementson.
Bowman told the board that any motion to table the proposal is a “delay action.” The county board has set a precedent on crushing and blasting sites. He also said he hasn’t encountered a well going dry because of a blasting operation.
He also invited concerned residents to view other quarries the company operates.
Etta Erickson, who said the quarry would be near her from yard, said she is concerned about the noise because it is a “very quiet, peaceable area.” She also questioned why residents were told after a permit had been filed and not beforehand.
Briggs said she voted against tabling the issue because the residents are opposed to the mining operation regardless of Bowman answering their concerns.