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P&Z approves Knife River pit for two seasons with safety conditions
Summary
Silver Creek Township Planning & Zoning approved Knife River’s Naaktgeboren Pit operations for the 2026 and 2027 seasons with conditions, conversion to an IUP, and a mandatory review in 2028 after members raised truck-safety concerns.
Planning & Zoning Chair Chris Klein presided over a March 3 meeting in which the board approved Knife River’s operations at the Naaktgeboren Pit with conditions and a set of recommendations.
Steve Basgaad, Energy Service & Environmental Manager for Knife River, described operations at the pit. Board members expressed concern that trucks leaving the pit had failed to stop, creating a safety hazard for nearby roads. A supervisor suggested cutting back berms to improve sight lines or more vigorous enforcement of stop controls; members noted stronger enforcement could be difficult for haulers.
Supervisor Helman moved and Supervisor Geyen seconded a motion to approve the pit operations with the conditions listed in the Wright County public hearing notice and three added recommendations: limit approval to the 2026 and 2027 seasons; convert operations to an Interim Use Permit (IUP); and schedule a review in 2028. The motion carried 9-0.
Why it matters: the decision places time-limited oversight on the pit and requires a future review, giving the board a formal checkpoint to assess operational impacts and safety after two seasons. The action also ties the approval to Wright County’s public hearing conditions, which the board required be followed.
What’s next: the approval's conversion to an IUP and the 2028 review create formal opportunities for the township or residents to raise compliance concerns if safety issues persist.
