CF mayor wants sand committee formed
| By Chris Vetter |
| Chippewa Falls News Bureau e |
| CHIPPEWA FALLS - Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman recommended Tuesday that the city form a citizen advisory committee to examine and handle any complaints that arise from a sand processing plant that is expected to be built in the northeast corner of Chippewa Falls. Hoffman said he serves on a similar committee for the Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facility, and the quarterly meetings about the prison do a good job in keeping everyone informed about any possible issues there. Hoffman said a similar committee that looks at sand plant issues could have the same positive results. "I think that could go a long way for the sand plant, and it could include Eagle Point residents," Hoffman said. Canadian Sand and Proppant plans to build a processing facility in the northeast corner of Chippewa Falls on a 93-acre site that is zoned for heavy industrial use. At least one mine, located in the town of Howard, would be opened, and up to 250 trucks of sand per day could be hauled to the processing plant. The company has stated it would spend $45 million to $50 million to build the facility, and the plant would create 55 jobs. A couple of months ago, Hoffman announced that only city residents, or people owning property in the city, would be allowed to comment at City Council meetings about the plant. That ruling has rankled many Eagle Point residents who live just outside city limits but near the planned processing facility site. Chippewa Falls resident Dave Martineau asked the council Tuesday to include those residents in discussions about the plant, as well as on a citizens advisory committee. "I think it would go a long way toward healing the disconnection between the city and the county residents," Martineau told the City Council. "The complaints aren't going to stop. They are only going to grow and be more contentious." Martineau warned the council that county residents living outside the city might decide to drive past Chippewa Falls and do their shopping in Eau Claire. "You are going to put a roadblock up between the county residents and the city," Martineau said. "I think we are going to alienate a major portion of residents just north of town. My concern is that everyone has an opportunity to feel involved in the community." Hoffman provided a timeline of public hearings on the sand processing plant, noting 14 public hearings were held when the sand plant was placed on the agenda, before he announced only city residents would be allowed to speak on the topic at council meetings. Four other city residents spoke Tuesday about the proposed sand plant. Some raised concerns about a resin plant that would be erected next to the processing plant. However, Gary Stone, Canadian Sand and Proppant general manager, said last week he is not planning to install a resin plant. Council member Greg Dachel said he's listened to all the complaints, but the council has already approved the business, and it could begin construction when it chooses. Opponents of the plant have expressed concern about how the plant could affect air quality and drinking water, but Dachel said a state Department of Natural Resources examination showed the plant's emissions still would be well below any dangerous levels. "A lot of the health stuff is being blown way out of proportion," Dachel said. Vetter can be reached at 723-0303 or chris.vetter@ecpc.com. |