Commission approves 39‑acre interim mining permit with 17 conditions and phased reclamation

The Clay County Planning Commission approved an interim use permit on Nov. 4 allowing a phased gravel mining operation on property owned by Steven and Deborah Eckery, subject to 17 staff‑recommended conditions and a 10‑year permit term.

Staff said the operation would extract construction‑grade sand and limited gravel from shallow deposits (about 15–20 feet deep), open 10–12 acres per phase, and not conduct washing or dewatering. Progressive reclamation is required as mining advances, with the county’s minimum bond set at about $1,000 per acre. Staff recommended limiting the permitted area to 39 acres to avoid triggering a mandatory Environmental Assessment Worksheet under state rules; the commission accepted that limit.

Bruce Squires, a retired licensed geologist who addressed the commission, described the plan as a rolling reclamation approach that returns reclaimed areas to cropland, and noted local industry experience with similar operations. Staff also reported that the county engineer raised no concerns with the proposed haul route that would use existing county roads to the landfill and other distribution points.

The commission approved 17 conditions including a requirement that mining activities stay at least 10 feet above the groundwater table, phased reclamation and bonding, limits on the number of open acres per phase, seasonal operating windows and hours consistent with county standards. The interim use permit was granted by voice vote after commission members moved to approve staff conditions.