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Resident urges moratorium and ordinance fixes for sand mines; commissioners debate definitions
Summary
A Houston resident told commissioners 'sand is a size, not a material,' urged a moratorium on new sand-mining permits, and recommended defining 'active' mines by annual cubic yards produced; commissioners disputed several technical points and discussed existing ordinance tools.
During public comment, John Haines of Houston criticized previous remarks by a commissioner and urged the board to tighten sand-mine permitting and reclamation rules. "Sand is defined by what size it is... Sand is sand," Haines said, arguing the county’s ordinances need clearer definitions and enforcement. He told the board he counted "at least 20 active sand mines in Houston County" and proposed a definition of 'active' based on cubic yards produced per year, monitored with traffic counters.
Haines also suggested a moratorium while the county updates ordinances. Commissioners responded with technical corrections and policy context: one commissioner said many county sewer systems are mound systems that require clean sand, and another pointed out the county previously enacted a two-year moratorium in 2012 and revised ordinances. Commissioners noted the ordinance already allows bonds and reclamation requirements and said a moratorium could be debated but is not necessarily warranted at this time.
Board discussion following the comment included staff and commissioners clarifying the differences between sand, lime screenings and crushed limestone and noting that some uses (mound septic systems) do require clean sand. The exchange left the issue open for further staff follow-up rather than immediate action.
