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County approves temporary concrete and crushing plants for Highway 81 project with traffic, noise conditions
Summary
The Yankton County Board of Commissioners approved conditional use permits allowing a temporary concrete batch plant and a portable crushing/HMA plant to support U.S. Highway 81 work, attaching an expiration date and conditions addressing truck traffic, noise and a road-haul agreement after resident complaints about truck noise and safety.
The Yankton County Board of Commissioners approved conditional use permits Tuesday for two temporary construction facilities tied to U.S. Highway 81 reconstruction — a concrete batch plant for Michael’s Road & Stone and a portable crushing/HMA plant for Central Specialized Inc. — and attached traffic and noise conditions to limit community impacts.
Commissioners set firm end dates and conditions. The permit for Michael’s Road & Stone was approved with a sunset aligned to the contractor’s timetable (November 15, 2025). The county approved the Central Specialized permit with a completion date of Sept. 30, 2025, and required a road-haul agreement and restrictions aimed at reducing noise and unsafe driving behaviors.
The permits follow detailed presentations by company representatives and extended public comment from nearby residents who said truck noise and heavy traffic at the gravel pit access have created safety and quality-of-life problems. Garrett Carlson, assistant project manager for Michael’s Road & Stone, told the commission the concrete plant is a temporary, non‑excavation facility “just pretty much sitting on” the property and would operate in two phases over the summer and fall to pave Highway 81.
Resident Rich Valek said truck movements at a nearby gravel pit have caused repeated noise and safety issues. “I’m not trying to stop the progress of this 81 project. Absolutely not,” Valek said. “I’m just looking at the safety of it… Somebody — I’m glad it has not happened yet. God forbid.” Valek and other neighbors described repeated use of engine compression brakes (commonly called “Jake brakes”), drivers failing to stop at a nearby stop sign and trucks arriving early in the morning.
County and state staff described steps intended to reduce risk during the project. Commissioners said the state-developed traffic-management plan for the pit will include flaggers and signage while the project is active. County staff said they are coordinating with Utica Township on a longer-term roadway fix — raising the approach grade on the township road that leads to the pit — so heavy trucks will have a safer intersection once the project is finished.
Commissioners also discussed enforcement tools if conditions are violated. Several commissioners asked whether the county could make a permit condition barring Jake-brake use and whether repeated violations could lead to permit revocation; staff recommended working with the sheriff’s office and the state’s attorney on enforcement, and the board also asked county staff to pursue a countywide ordinance addressing Jake-brake noise. Commissioners discussed a “three-strike” concept for repeated permit violations during the project, and asked that complaints and any video evidence be collected for enforcement actions.
Action summary: Commissioners voted to approve both conditional use permits. The Michael’s Road & Stone CUP includes an expiration of Nov. 15, 2025, to match the contractor’s end date. The Central Specialized CUP was approved with a Sept. 30, 2025 expiration and conditional requirements: the company must keep a road-haul agreement in force and the county placed a condition aimed at prohibiting use of Jake brakes coming from the east to the pit; the permit also requires the applicant to follow the state traffic-management plan (flaggers, signage). The board directed staff to work with the sheriff’s office and the state’s attorney on enforcement options and to pursue permanent roadway improvements with Utica Township.
The commission’s approvals came after public comment and an exchange in which residents and commissioners emphasized both the need to complete the state highway project and the need to reduce local safety and noise impacts while heavy hauling is underway.
Looking ahead: County staff and the state will monitor traffic during the project, and the commission asked staff to return with any proposed county-level noise or braking ordinance and with progress on the proposed grade-raise with Utica Township.
