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Zoning committee renews Blomberg Pit permit for five years, narrows crushing schedule
Summary
The Sawyer County Zoning Committee renewed a five-year conditional use permit for H and S Excavating’s Blomberg Pit, keeping extraction limits and reclamation requirements and approving a revised crushing schedule — 6 a.m.–8 p.m., excluding Sundays and holidays, not to exceed 12 days per calendar year.
The Sawyer County Zoning Committee voted to renew a five-year conditional use permit for a nonmetallic mining operation known as the Blomberg Pit, operated by H and S Excavating LLC, and approved narrower hours for crushing to reduce community disturbance.
Zoning staff said the renewal, recorded as CUP 25-031, covers a permitted mine site of about 15 acres within two parcels totaling roughly 31.44 acres in the Town of Weagor, with about 10 acres currently being mined and a minor expansion anticipated. The staff report showed the nearest residence is approximately 800 feet from the mine, and that the county had no complaints on file for the site.
Mike Hopkins, owner of H and S Excavating LLC, appeared online and asked the committee for renewal. Hopkins said he agreed to a staff-proposed, more restrictive crushing schedule. “I would be agreeable with that,” Hopkins said when staff proposed crushing limited to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., excluding Sundays and holidays, and not to exceed 12 days per calendar year.
County staff recommended conditions including compliance with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources rules (NR 135 for reclamation), maintenance of the approved plan of operation, and a financial assurance instrument already held by the county. Staff also recommended that crushing be limited in duration and that the permit continue to require a transfer form if ownership changes before the next renewal.
The committee approved the five-year renewal with the revised crushing schedule and the other standard conditions in the staff report. Committee members recorded yes votes on the roll call; the motion carried.
The county will backdate the five-year renewal to March 15, 2024, and required the owner to provide a site address or fire number for emergency services. Staff noted the operator must maintain compliance with state reclamation rules and the plan of operation; any changes to operations may require additional review at the next renewal.
The permit includes the county’s condition that the CUP runs with the property and that a nonmetallic-mining transfer form must be filed by a new owner prior to the next renewal if the property changes hands.
