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Mercer County approves wide slate of temporary-use permits for mining, test wells and crushing operations
Summary
The Mercer County Commission approved a series of temporary-use renewals for sand and gravel pits, test wells, laydown yards and portable crushing on Dec. 18, 2024, with several commissioners recusing themselves on specific items and one permit amended to a one-month renewal.
The Mercer County Commission on Dec. 18 approved a broad package of temporary-use permit renewals for mining operations, test wells and crushing activities across multiple townships in the county.
Commissioners voted to approve renewals including Energy Sand Solutions, Summit Carbon Solutions test wells, Basin Electric laydown yard, Strata portable crushing, Ramsey Hill Exploration and North Dakota Proppant sand-and-gravel operations. Several permits were renewed with conditions: Temporary Use #638 for Energy Sand Solutions was finally approved with an amendment limiting the renewal to one month after an initial six-month motion and a failed three-month amendment. The commission also amended Temporary Use #649 for Ramsey Hill Exploration to a three-month renewal before approving it. Commissioners noted recusal where conflicts existed: Commissioner Casey Voigt recused on Temp Use #639 (a Voigt-owned scoria pit), Commissioner Mark Pierce recused on Temp Use #642 (Coteau Properties), and Commissioner Jamee Folk recused herself on Temp Use #649 and #650 where indicated.
The permits cover a range of activities and parcels: sand and gravel mining, scoria pits, overburden pits, portable crushing on approximately 24 acres, haul road renewals and multiple test-well locations. Motions were moved and seconded by various commissioners (recorded motions include Jamee Folk, Mark Pierce and Rick Bauman as primary movers/seconders) and the board recorded the approvals in the minutes. Where a commissioner recused themselves the minutes note the recusal and that the remaining commissioners voted in favor.
Why this matters: the permits allow extraction, on-site processing and test-well work that can affect county roads, agricultural land and local reclamation responsibilities; shorter renewals (one- or three-month limits) indicate the commission sought closer follow-up or additional paperwork in some cases.
The commission recorded each Temporary Use item in its official minutes; applicants and site descriptions were listed for each permit. No additional conditions beyond the stated shorter renewal periods and recusal notes were recorded in the minutes. The permits were approved as recorded; further administrative follow-up (permits, bonds, or paperwork) was not detailed in the minutes.
The commission adjourned and will reconvene for its next regular meeting on Jan. 2, 2025.
