Sawyer County zoning panel renews multiple pit permits, approves fireworks storage site, accepts solar withdrawal and forwards camping-cabin draft to towns

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee on April 25 approved five‑year renewals and other land‑use actions across several townships, accepted a developer’s withdrawal of a proposed 2‑megawatt solar site and voted to circulate a revised camping‑cabin ordinance to town governments for comment.

Committee members prioritized routine renewals for nonmetallic mineral extraction sites (sand and gravel pits) while taking separate votes on two matters that drew public comment: a storage site for display fireworks and a proposed solar array on private land. The committee also voted to send “option F” of a proposed amendment to Appendix D of the county code (camping cabins/park models) to town boards for review, with an added note permitting slabs under cabins.

Most of the pit renewals were routine staff‑recommended approvals with standard conditions: compliance with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reclamation standards (NR 135), adherence to the applicant plan of operation and Chapter 30 (stormwater) permits, financial assurance kept current, and the requirement that the CUP (conditional use permit) “go with the property” so a transfer form must be filed if the property changes hands.

The committee recorded several votes at the meeting. Highlights: - CUP 25‑017 (Syrnick Pit, Nancy Cernick, Town of Edgewater) — approved by roll call (Buchholz, Magnuson, Wilson, Schumann, Cariannon all recorded “yes”). Cernick told the committee she “wanted renewal of the gravel pit going forward.” - CUP 25‑025 (Old 27 Road Pit, Daryl Mast / Daryl and Ruth Ann Mast, Town of Sand Lake) — approved unanimously at roll call. Operator Beryl/Daryl Mast described the site as an existing sand/borrow operation used for local needs and said the current active area is small and expansion would be gradual. - CUP 25‑029 (Old Highway 70 / Radisson area, Marvin Mullet Jr. / Select Materials LLC) — the committee approved the reclamation plan and later approved the location/operation permit by a 3–2 vote (yes: Magnuson, Buchholz, Cariannon; no: Schumann, Wilson). Committee discussion focused on groundwater proximity and how an operator would handle encountering water; staff and the applicant said operations would remain above standing water and noted DNR guidance that extraction near groundwater can be permitted with protective measures. - CUP 25‑030 (Hayward Demo LLC / Select Land Holdings LLC; storage of shipping containers including eight containers to hold explosive/fireworks materials for RES Pyro) — approved unanimously after the applicant agreed to added conditions. RES Pyro CEO Will Wallace described the proposal as a remote storage hub for display fireworks used in permitted public shows and said the company operates under ATF, DOT, OSHA and other federal oversight; Wallace said, “We currently produce 500 shows in the Midwest and 3,500 shows around the world.” The committee required adherence to ATF and NFPA standards, an annual notification/coordination with local law enforcement and fire officials, a land‑use permit for container placement, and that the CUP be limited to the named owner(s)/business partners (Hayward Demo, Select Materials, RES). Public comment included safety concerns from Edgewater resident Linda Zilmer, who said the “primary concern is public safety.” - CUP 25‑027 (Heath Pit, Todd & Amy Torgenson, Town of Winter) — renewal approved subject to standard conditions; staff said the pit is mostly reclaimed and not active but the owners wanted the CUP available for a future operator. - CUP 25‑028 (Johnson Pit, Daniel Johnson, Town of Winter) — renewal approved; the committee added a condition removing Sunday crushing (applicant agreed). - CUP 25‑032 (JD Pit, Kenton and Amy Slabaugh, Town of Sand Lake) — renewal approved with standard conditions; financial assurance noted as due for update. - CUP 25‑033 (ATP Pit, Fund 8 Lake Newco LLC — agent Steigerwalt Land Services) — reclamation/renewal approved with a condition requiring a site address/fire number and with crushing hours limited to 5 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Saturday. - CUP 25‑034 (Yankee Joe Pit, Northern Highlands NMTC LLC — Steigerwalt agent) — renewal approved with amended crushing hours agreed in the hearing (5 a.m.–9 p.m., Monday–Saturday, May 1–Nov. 1).

The committee also accepted a withdrawal of CUP 25‑035, the proposed 2 MW solar array on property owned by Abel and Laura Channing; staff read a written notice from Dairyland Power Cooperative explaining the applicant’s decision to terminate the lease and withdraw the CUP. The chair called for a motion to accept the withdrawal and the committee approved it.

On non‑zoning policy work, the committee voted to forward “option F” of a draft amendment to Appendix D (proposed rules on camping cabins/park models) to the towns for local review, with an explicit addition permitting slabs under cabins (the committee asked staff to supply a clear, final version for town review). Committee and staff comments during the public hearing stressed the need for plain, illustrated guidance to help town boards and the public distinguish park models, camping cabins and small dwellings — and to clarify inspection and code responsibilities (SPS/UDC/ATCP references were mentioned by multiple speakers). County legal counsel Rebecca Roker noted there are state regulatory areas that may limit county action (preemption) and urged care in drafting.

The meeting record shows committee members balancing routine permitting of local resource operations with public‑safety questions at the container storage case and broader policy work on camping cabins and solar siting. The committee’s staff report and each CUP packet include the specific conditions that the committee referenced in its motions; those conditions remain the operative requirements for each renewed permit.

Votes at a glance (key items from April 25 meeting): - CUP 25‑017 (Nancy Cernick, Syrnick Pit, Edgewater) — approved; conditions include NR 135 reclamation, plan of operation, hours (6 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon–Sat), financial assurance updated. - CUP 25‑025 (Daryl Mast, Old 27 Road Pit, Sand Lake) — approved; no crushing allowed; hours 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon–Fri; financial assurance active. - CUP 25‑029 (Marvin Mullet Jr / Select Materials — Radisson/Old Highway 70 Pit) — reclamation plan approved; location/operation approved 3–2 with conditions including financial assurance $1,500/acre and crushing limits agreed in packet (applicant amended some crushing days to a calendar‑day cap). - CUP 25‑030 (Hayward Demo / Select Land Holdings / RES Pyro — shipping containers storing display fireworks) — approved with conditions: adherence to ATF and NFPA standards, annual notice/coordination with sheriff/fire chief/PD, land‑use permit for containers, CUP limited to named owners/business partner (RES), and other site conditions. - CUP 25‑027, 25‑028, 25‑032, 25‑033, 25‑034 — all approved with staff‑recommended conditions; 25‑028 revised to prohibit Sunday crushing. - CUP 25‑031 — postponed to May meeting (town notification issue). - CUP 25‑035 (Channing/Dairyland 2 MW solar) — applicant withdrew; committee accepted withdrawal. - Appendix D (camping cabins) — committee voted to send “option F” to towns for review with slab allowance added.

What’s next: The committee directed staff and legal counsel to continue drafting the camping‑cabin language in a clear form for town review. Staff also said it will prepare a draft moratorium and timeline for potential solar‑facility rules and suggested a moratorium could be considered for a limited term while a county solar ordinance is drafted.

The committee’s motions and roll‑call votes are recorded in the meeting transcript and minutes. Staff packets attached to each CUP contain the full set of proposed conditions (hours, reclamation references to NR 135, Chapter 30 permitting, financial assurance amounts and transfer‑form requirements) that applicants must meet before excavation or crushing begins.