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Commissioners agree to put gravel-pit enforcement and landowner notices on next meeting agenda
Summary
Commissioners discussed complaints about gravel-pit activity and directed staff to draft consistent letters to private landowners; several commissioners asked that existing agreements be reviewed before sending demand letters and asked the matter be placed on next Monday's agenda for fuller review.
A county commissioner raised concerns about gravel-pit activities that may be occurring improperly on private land and asked staff to respond to an email about the matter.
Board members discussed sending notices or demand letters to pit owners to prevent improper materials from appearing and considered offering an option for owners to take over a county gravel-pit permit so the county could buy gravel from them. Commissioners emphasized the difference between a signed contract with a landowner and a DEQ permit alone: a signed contract imposes more direct county controls, while a DEQ permit may allow additional activity if the landowner notifies the county.
"I insist that the agreements be reviewed before we send out any letters just so we don't accidentally shoot ourselves in the foot," one commissioner said, and the board agreed to place the topic on the agenda for the following Monday to give staff time to prepare draft letters and clarify legal positions. Staff indicated letters would be sent to all private landowners to maintain consistency if the board chose that approach.
Next steps: add the gravel-pit notice and contract-review item to the next Monday agenda, review underlying agreements, and prepare draft letters to landowners for commissioners' review.
