[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6588046,"mediaKeyId","5487324-07101ff6e3fdeb5acb87e81bde7a63f4","parentId",5487324,"title","Linn County approves Mulberry Limestone quarry permit, adds traffic‑study requirement","audioSeconds",12875,"startMs",3420000,"endMs",16295000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5487324-07101ff6e3fdeb5acb87e81bde7a63f4&start=3420&end=16295","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5487324-07101ff6e3fdeb5acb87e81bde7a63f4/thumbnail_3420000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588046/Linn-County/Kansas/Linn-County-approves-Mulberry-Limestone-quarry-permit-adds-trafficstudy-requirement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588046-aabbbd8c7fdc489d56eefec3c7ef700a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113091&Signature=DcX12HB-h0MqllvgFytrG3x57wCzNxigt64KE0T05SCkV0rLhLqfUBgvzJoCgP0gMCg7OxG3HXbxky~H3cGDP3c9Usi-2dZGgyirxfDksYI3MUC1yc5xHzA20O3rFsJzkD2pRujRehqsOMPV0zs4QR6xsiCegLWzxOQ2DAO-KuOQ-Nz0wzaypKFNMNZ9cyOMKHYaz1xXhKE9-PiPnce6Q9Rp9CZ4SYnUid4BibUUlUqqIR7qnCQ~E4eF9~FDHOG4s2eiNnghD69C8tWKLnCIO4Z4dNICFQ5RUX8yMvrRBKasz9XSP5UIWhzOerqanoKeNzT1dz9swRaDRjU2sN8iYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Linn County Kansas","date","2025-07-28T18:41:36.737Z","article","Linn County commissioners on July 28 approved a conditional use permit for Mulberry Limestone to operate a rock quarry on about 122.7 acres near the intersection of 2400 Road and Valley Road, voting 2–1 after lengthy public comment and presentations by staff, industry representatives and residents.

The permit was approved with a set of conditions recommended by county planning staff and the planning and zoning commission — including hours of operation, setbacks, berming and vegetation, pre‑blast surveys, dust control and a requirement that the conditional use be reviewed and renewed five years after approval. Commissioners also adopted an amendment requiring Mulberry Limestone to pay for a traffic study of the intersection used by quarry trucks.

The planning and zoning director, Ben Souda, told commissioners the application met staff findings: the land is zoned agricultural and quarries are allowed by conditional use, the property has been used for agriculture, and nearby zoning and land uses generally are agricultural. Staff recommended approval subject to conditions including keeping state and federal permits on file with the county, operating hours limited to 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday, a 460‑foot setback from the road and adjacent property lines, seeded berms and evergreen screening on the west berm, dust control, no storage of explosives, and a required road management plan developed with the public works director.

Opponents who spoke at the public hearing argued the permit conflicts with the county comprehensive plan and would harm property values and the rural character. Resident Stephanie Walker, who lives on Valley Road, said the proposal ran counter to multiple goals in the comprehensive plan, including “Protect the natural beauty and open spaces that make our county special.” Other residents cited academic studies and local realtor input and urged commissioners to reject the permit or add stronger protections.

Industry representatives and the applicant’s attorney countered that technical controls and setbacks would limit impacts. Dean Manuel of Austin Powder Company (contractor) described the pre‑blast survey process and the state vibration and air‑blast limits quarry blasts must meet, saying third‑party surveys document conditions before blasting. Patrick Hughes of Adams Jones law firm, representing Mulberry Limestone, told the commission the site contains a high‑quality rock resource that requires relatively little overburden and that berming, setbacks and vegetation will reduce visibility and sound. Company representative Matt Blesson said the applicant plans to seed berms, plant trees and work with neighbors: “I’m gonna make the area nice. That’s what we wanna do.”

Commissioners debated the permit’s consistency with the county plan, neighbor proximity and cumulative impacts. One commissioner moved to table the item to a later date to obtain outside counsel and additional review; that motion failed for lack of a second. A subsequent motion to approve the permit and accept the planning commission’s 6–0 recommendation carried after commissioners added the traffic‑study amendment requiring the applicant to fund a traffic study at the 2400/Valley intersection. The final vote on the permit was 2–1 in favor.

Under the approved conditions, the county will require the applicant to comply with all local, state and federal regulations, keep permits on file with the county planning office, limit operation hours, maintain vegetative buffers, and follow a road management plan developed with the public works director. The conditional use will be subject to a five‑year review.

The county attorney and planning staff are to finalize the written permit conditions and file them in the planning office; the traffic study will be coordinated with the public works director as required by the amendment.

Why it matters: The decision allows a new industrial operation near existing residences, raising questions residents flagged about property values, truck traffic and long‑term land use. Commissioners imposed specific operational controls and a traffic‑study requirement to address road safety and community concerns; the permit will return for formal review in five years.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Linn County Kansas Commissioner's Meeting 07.28.25","oneSentenceSummary","Linn County commissioners on July 28 approved a conditional use permit for Mulberry Limestone to operate a rock quarry on roughly 122.7 acres near 2400 Road and Valley Road, accepting planning staff findings but adding a requirement that the company pay for a traffic study of the nearby intersection; the commission approved the permit 2–1 after extended public comment and technical testimony.","taxTitle","Linn County, Kansas","taxId",64338,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588041,"Votes at a glance: Linn County approves claims, hires public‑works administrator, grants permits and purchases radios",11361,380000,11741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5487324-07101ff6e3fdeb5acb87e81bde7a63f4&start=380&end=11741","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5487324-07101ff6e3fdeb5acb87e81bde7a63f4/thumbnail_380000.jpg","/articles/6588041/Linn-County/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Linn-County-approves-claims-hires-publicworks-administrator-grants-permits-and-purchases-radios","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588041-ef16072162043c555cbaee60e25b8960/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113091&Signature=LxHHTPVtvJhmLo02ZEqhh6IYL8kuvqog8RLfJlmX9WQoR6bzs0cnnqQZqlwG1jOXAxYIEHWr5oPhEZbQNLb7wjSFVpZgV74TD9UcCye1t-QeE1-1fh95iLg9bFsPT30k1MT~veq9cP7okJuzZ2q~vdVff16V7MfzYYJW-AAZs2iNpxv-DTxDoBlOXGXLaC9pzKGifgjzIoxXSXr7hX1H6YLht91Xk9xF7kjRD8F4A5X4sNaEwLx8U118vh5LZw8xuX0cysKDiqI~rfcuzOLIYMBXto~awQncnL5uWYGFQYpcwDoI1sP7P1Bm2~uDW9osoRIJiIAzE1juOkVpEkDTeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Linn County commissioners handled a cluster of routine and staffing actions at their July 28 meeting, approving claims, department purchases and personnel actions and adopting a nonbinding road‑safety resolution while reserving review of other requests.

Key votes at the meeting included:

- Claims: Commissioners approved county claims totaling $610,340.72. The motion to approve claims was moved and seconded and carried unanimously.

- Vision 0 resolution (Resolution 2025‑17): The board adopted a nonbinding resolution to participate in Vision 0 / high‑risk‑rural‑roads planning and to allow staff to pursue grant applications tied to that program. Planning staff will coordinate with Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission on next steps.

- Subdivision and lot‑split approvals: The commission approved the Troughs Subdivision final plat / lot split and another minor lot split (referred to in the staff report as a lot split) after staff confirmed required signatures and absence of objections.

- Mulberry Quarry CUP (summary): See separate article for full coverage of the Mulberry Limestone conditional use permit (CUP 25‑04) approval; commissioners approved the permit with conditions and an amendment requiring the applicant to fund a traffic study for the 2400/Valley Road intersection (final vote 2–1).

- Hiring and personnel: The commission approved the permanent appointment and salary for Jesse Walton as Public Works Administrator (grade 16q; $35.70/hour; annual salary $74,263), and authorized a two‑week external posting to hire a Public Works assistant position; the job description and starting pay scale will be developed with input from Public Works.

- Radios and equipment: The board approved purchase of 25 handheld radios and chargers for county field crews at a total purchase cost of $10,879.75 (26 chargers and 25 radios quoted; monthly plan changes expected to lower recurring cost). The purchase was funded from budgeted amounts in the road department.

- Burial/utility permits: Commissioners approved burial (bore) permits for Paige Enterprises (2025‑12 and 2025‑13) for 1‑inch waterline crossings at specified county roads.

- Allow county staff to sign mill/overlay plans: Commissioners authorized the Public Works director to sign the cover of plans for the 1095 mill and overlay project so engineers can proceed with KDOT requirements.

- Planning & zoning vacancy recruitment and other administrative items: Staff were authorized to solicit applicants for planning and zoning vacancies and to publish updated, fillable forms on the county website for towing and other applications.

- Mental‑health funding: After discussion, the commission voted to withhold the county's routine direct funding to Southeast Kansas Mental Health for 2025 (the board recorded a vote that left county direct funding at $0 for 2025) and asked the mental‑health provider to present clear, county‑specific deliverables and quarterly collaboration proposals. Commissioners said they would reconsider funding in a future budget cycle if the provider offers measurable commitments for Linn County services. The board also discussed a joint pilot with the sheriff's office described by the provider but did not allocate county funds pending clearer commitments.

Why it matters: These actions cover routine county administration (claims, permits, equipment) and staffing as well as program funding and grant pursuit. The decisions on hiring and equipment affect county operations immediately; the decision to withhold mental‑health funding signals commissioners’ demand for clearer, county‑specific plans and reporting before committing budget dollars.

","At its July 28 meeting the Linn County Board of Commissioners approved routine claims, hired a new public works administrator, authorized department purchases and permits, adopted a Vision 0 resolution to support high‑risk rural roads work, and asked a regional mental‑health provider for clearer deliverables before awarding county operating funds.","actionData","errors"]

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Linn County approves Mulberry Limestone quarry permit, adds traffic‑study requirement

Votes at a glance: Linn County approves claims, hires public‑works administrator, grants permits and purchases radios