Co. Planning Commission to consider quarry permit Thurs.
Big Stone County Planning Commission will be meeting this Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Clinton Memorial Building to discuss the granting of a conditional use permit to Strata Corporation of North Dakota to build a new quarry to mine granite on 102 acres of leased land south of the Ortonville city limits. (An aerial view of the quarry appears elsewhere in this issue).
At the first public hearing on the issue on Jan. 5, more than 75 people were in attendance, with 18 speaking out against the quarry and no one speaking in favor of granting the conditional use permit.
After the Jan. 5 meeting, many questions were asked and Strata was asked to come back to this Thursday’s meeting to address these concerns.
According to Big Stone County Environmental Officer Darren Wilke, the following issues were brought up at the Jan. 5 meeting:
• Rare Plant Protection Area (no buffer and “L” shape are ill conceived)…..dust on rare species/in e-pools/management of RPPA.
• Underground hydrology/Mitigation of dewatering wells/livestock watering holes.
• Affects on tourism/Refuge Auto Tour route.
• Private Access over railroad (splitting of train cars, etc.).
• Property Values.
• Dust at property boundaries.
• Plan for vibration/sound monitoring (mitigation).
• Dust in homes (mention of certain dust types not detected in testing protocols).
• Job loss at neighboring quarries.
• Estimates of gravel tax and property taxes.
• Violations (although briefly discussed at last meeting).
• Lack of future development due to quarry operation in area.
• Hours of operation.
• Time lines to establish sight and sound berms/time line to establish getting primary crusher “in the hole”.
• Alternative water supply if Diversion Channel is below certain CFS/dry/re-routed in future projects.
The following three issues were asked by the Planning Commission for Strata to bring up at the Feb. 2 meeting:
• Decibel levels from primary crusher at bike trail (before/after hole is established).
• Entry signage (size/design/style, etc.).
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•Lighting Issues (direction/intensity/duration).
The meeting this Thursday will not be open for public comment and depending on the information gathered at this meeting, the Planning Commission may or may not make a decision on the conditional use permit.
Should the commission grant the permit, final approval will then be made the Big Stone County Board of Commissioners at a future meeting, Four of the five commissioners must vote in favor of the project for it to pass.
Winter Carnival activities to be held Feb. 6-10 at OHS
Winter Carnival festivities will be held Feb. 6-10 at the Ortonville High School with various activities going on through out the week.
On Monday, Feb. 6, Coronation ceremonies will be held at 7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. Admission will be $1.
During the week, there will be different dress up days. On Monday it is Class Pattern Day (seniors-animal print, juniors-tie dye, sophomores-plaid, freshmen-camo, 8th grade-polka dot and 7th grade-stripes); Tuesday is Cowboy and Cowgirl Day; Wednesday is Pajama Day: Thursday is Gangsta Day and Friday is Black and Orange Day (wear all black and orange.
Friday afternoon students will be involved with activities during 6th and 7th hours including Trojan Olympics.
Senior Winter Carnival Royalty Queen Candidates are:
Kara Helgeson-daughter of Harley and Ellie Helgeson-(drama, track, basketball, volleyball, Knowledge Bowl, Awards Association, L.E.F.T., band, choir and FCA).
Nicole Kirchberg-daughter of Warren and Donna Kirchberg-(volleyball, gymnastics, golf and basketball cheerleader).
Vanessa Kirchberg-daughter of Mike and Rachel Kirchberg-(volleyball, track, cross country, basketball and FCA).
Kaitlyn Kottke-daughter of Tim and Jody Kottke-(track, gymnastics and yearbook staff).
Danielle Mastel-daughter of Clark and Kelly Mastel (Key Club, softball, volleyball, basketball and Prom Committee).
King Candidates are:
Nick Athey-son of Kelly and Gayla Athey-(cross country, track, basketball manager, Key Club, BPA, 7th and 8th grade Knowledge Bowl, drama, yearbook staff, band, pep band and jazz band).
Jacob Henrich-son of Tim and Cindy Henrich-(cross country and track).
Dylan Koch-son of Leah and Frank Kellen and Jeff Koch-(basketball, Knowledge Bowl, junior high football and golf).
Alec Larson-son of Aaron and Deb Larson (drama).
Brandon Nelson-son of Liz and Cal Rackl and Greg Nelson (basketball, baseball and drama).
Class attendants are:
7th Grade--Clarissa Blake- daughter of Phil and Sue Blake-(volleyball, gymnastics, softball, drama and student council). Mason Kuechenmeister -son of Troy and Kim Kuechenmeister-(football, basketball and student council).
8th grade-Hope Hasslen-daughter of Brent and Kim Hasslens-(cross country basketball, golf, student council, Knowledge Bowl and band). Justin Radermacher-son of Ed and Cathy Radermacher-(basketball, Knowledge Bowl, band, pep band and student council).
Freshmen-Mersadie Packard-granddaughter of Bonnie Anderson-(drama). Dylan Loraff-son of Kirsten Scoblic and Kyle Loraff-(football and baseball).
Sophomores-Rebecca Peterson-daughter of Brent and Kathy Peterson-(basketball and volleyball). Jordan Bohlman-son of Jamie and Scott Stallman.
Juniors-Cassie Sorenson-daughter of Pat and Liz Sorenson-(basketball, student council, Key Club, FCA, drama, band and pep band). Aaron Quinn-son of Brian and Deb Hofhenke-(football, basketball, baseball, band and choir).
The Winter Carnival dance will be held in the OHS Auditorium on Friday, Feb. 10 following the boysbasketball game against Wheaton/Herman-Norcross. The dance will run until midnight.
Crownbearers for Winter Carnival are Justine Anderson, daughter of Dale and Amy Anderson and Carter Brown, son of Marty and Rachelle Brown.
Beginning farmers, retiring landowners collaborate
Getting a start can be very challenging for Minnesota's beginning farmers and ranchers, but now a national program aimed at helping the next generation of family farms has been expanded to include Minnesota. Traci Bruckner, assistant director of rural policy at the Center for Rural Affairs, says the Land Contract Guarantee Program gives some security to retiring farmers and landowners who sell their land to beginning farmers and opt to hold the notes themselves.
"If there is a landowner who'd like to sell their land to a beginning or a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, they can get a guarantee on that; that's if they self-finance the sale of the land."
With land values climbing, Bruckner says it can be a challenge for new farmers and ranchers to get the acreage they need. This program helps by allowing a retiring landowner to pass the torch to a new generation, by providing some protection as they self-finance.
"Sometimes they're a little worried about doing that, because beginners don't have a lot of capital behind them. So, this provides them that incentive, that little bit of security, that they may need to go into a deal like this."
The program is designed to encourage private land contract sales, although Bruckner believes it also serves a greater purpose.
"I hope a program like this even gets people thinking in their communities on what the future of their landscape is going to look like out there. Are they going to have one or two really large farms, because they can afford to pay more for land? Or are they going to try and, you know, save their communities and rebuild their communities, by giving beginners a chance?"
Bruckner says sellers can chose a 90 percent principal loan value guarantee, or a guarantee that covers three years' worth of annual payments. Get more information from the Center for Rural Affairs, at your local U.S. Farm Service Agency office, or at bit.ly/xbd2lB.
