The Sawyer County Zoning Committee approved the five-year renewal of Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 25-046 for a nonmetallic mineral extraction operation (gravel pit and potential rock crushing) in the Town of Sand Lake.

Applicant Don Atchok appeared and said operations and hours were acceptable; staff noted the pit covers 15 acres with up to 12 allowable acres to be mined and 7 acres currently mined. The zoning and conservation department’s staff report listed standard renewal conditions: compliance with NR 135 (financial assurance/reclamation), Department of Natural Resources (chapter 30) rules, the Pit’s plan of operation and the county’s hours and limits on crushing operations. Staff also requested that, prior to any additional crushing within the pit that would fall inside the 1,000-foot setback from a residence, the owner provide a written agreement from the adjacent resident waiving the setback requirement per Sawyer County Code of Ordinances, Appendix D, section 6.23(d).

Why it matters: The renewed permit keeps the operation subject to current environmental and operational safeguards and requires a written neighbor waiver if the operator seeks to crush closer than the standard 1,000-foot setback previously negotiated in a dated agreement.

Action and vote: The committee moved into a public hearing, received no opposition, and approved the renewal with conditions. Motion to approve was made by Tweed Schumann and seconded by Dale Magnuson. A roll-call vote recorded five "yes" votes (Buchholz, Magnuson, Wilson, Schumann, Cariannon) and one absence; the permit carries with the stated conditions.

Staff follow-up: County staff will request a copy of the written agreement from the neighbor for county records if the operator plans additional crushing inside setback distances; the renewal also requires maintenance of financial assurance and compliance with the approved reclamation plan.

Ending: The renewal keeps the site under explicit county conditions; staff and the operator said they would provide and circulate required documents as part of the decision notice.