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Sawyer County zoning committee renews multiple nonmetallic mining permits, approves reclamation plans
Summary
The Sawyer County Zoning Committee approved renewals and reclamation plans for several pits around the county on April 25, 2025, and added or clarified standard conditions including hours of operation, financial assurance and requirements to obtain site addresses for emergency services.
The Sawyer County Zoning Committee on April 25 approved renewals and related reclamation plans for a series of nonmetallic mineral extraction operations across the county, issuing conditions including reclamation compliance under NR 135, specified hours for crushing, and requirements for financial assurance and site addresses for emergency services.
The approvals covered renewal requests and reclamation approvals for pits in the towns of Edgewater, Sand Lake, Radisson, Hayward, Winter and others. Jay (zoning staff) summarized each application and proposed standard conditions such as compliance with NR 135 reclamation rules, adherence to plan-of-operation hours, chapter 30 (DNR) permit compliance, posting or updating financial assurance before excavation, and a requirement that the conditional use permit (CUP) go with the property and be transferred via a county nonmetallic-mining transfer form if the property sells.
Why it matters: nonmetallic mining operations affect roads, groundwater and local land use; the committee staged similar conditions across renewals to improve consistency on hours, crushing limits, reclamation, and emergency access (site addresses or fire numbers).
Details and outcomes: The committee approved the following actions during the meeting: - CUP 25-017 (Nancy Cernick, Cernick Pit, Town of Edgewater): renewal approved with staff conditions and findings of fact. Roll call recorded unanimous support (yes votes from Ron Buchholz, Dale Magnuson, Kaye Wilson, Tweed Schuman and Steve Cariannon).
- CUP 25-025 (Daryl/Daryl Mast, Old 27 Road Pit, Town of Sand Lake): renewal approved with the conditions and findings listed in the staff report; roll call recorded unanimous support.
- CUP 25-029 (Marvin Mullet Jr./Select Materials LLC, Old Highway 70 Pit, Town of Radisson): the committee separately approved (a) the NR 135 reclamation plan and (b) the location/operation CUP with amended crushing conditions. The reclamation-plan approval passed with the votes recorded in the public roll call (committee members voted yes, though one member expressed concern that the town had not returned the reclamation form). The subsequent location-and-operation CUP was approved on a 3–2 vote after discussion about proximity to standing water and groundwater; Tweed Schuman said he was “not satisfied” with groundwater assurances and voted no; Kaye Wilson also voted no. The motion to approve the CUP was made by Dale Magnuson and seconded (recorded on the transcript).
- CUP 25-027 (Todd and Amy Torgenson Trust, Town of Winter, Heath Pit): five-year renewal approved under the staff conditions and findings of fact; applicant reported the site is currently reclaimed and inactive but wished to keep the CUP active.
- CUP 25-028 (Daniel Johnson, Johnson Pit, Town of Winter): five-year renewal approved; committee added a condition removing Sunday crushing (committee amended months/hours so crushing would not occur on Sundays).
- CUP 25-032 (Kenton and Amy Slabaugh, JD Pit, Town of Sand Lake): five-year renewal approved with conditions listed in the staff report.
- CUP 25-033 (Fund 8 Lake Newco LLC, ATP Pit, Town of Winter): five-year renewal approved with condition that applicant obtain a site address/fire number for emergency services and that crushing hours be limited to the plan-of-operation timeframes.
- CUP 25-034 (Northern Highlands NMTC LLC, Yankee Joe Pit, Town of Ojibwe): five-year renewal approved; the committee and applicant agreed to amended crushing hours so crushing (if conducted) would be limited to 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday–Saturday, May 1–Nov. 1, and other staff conditions.
Common clarifications and conditions: For new or re-opened pits the committee required financial assurance before disturbance (for example $1,500 per acre in one case), that crushing be limited by days-per-year or restricted months when appropriate, that crushing operations be set back at least 1,000 feet from the nearest residence in sites with crushing, and that a site address/fire number be obtained where one was missing so emergency responders can locate operations.
Discussion highlights: Several members and members of the public raised groundwater concerns for sites that show standing water in aerial imagery; applicants and the committee discussed DNR rules and operator practices (berms, flat floors, visible sheens on standing water) as mitigations. The zoning staff and applicants confirmed the county enforces NR 135 reclamation standards and that the DNR regulates aspects of stormwater and groundwater for pits near navigable waters. Public comment included technical questions about dewatering and DNR requirements.
Ending: The committee approved the renewals and reclamation plans with the staff conditions described above, except where a vote failed (the Radisson location-and-operation CUP passed 3–2). Several applicants said they would submit or update required financial assurance and site addresses before excavation began.
