Letter: Questions arise from rezoning request

Clayton County Conservation Awareness Network (CAN) is a grass roots initiative for local conservation and conservation related issues. Our organization has developed a list of questions regarding the request for the rezoning of 746 acres from Agricultural (A-1) to Heavy Industrial (M-2) along the Great River Road near Clayton, Garnavillo and the Mississippi River in Clayton County.

Pattison Sand Co. operates a large underground frack sand mine with open pit operations on Mississippi Road adjacent to the area of the rezoning request. A list of these questions can be found at claytoncountycan.com.

Clayton County CAN respects the rights of property owners to petition for rezoning. Zoning ordinances serve the purpose of considering the interests of property owners and other stakeholders including Pattison Sand Co. employees, neighbors, communities and Clayton County taxpayers. Clayton County CAN understands the environment can't be completely preserved, but we do advocate for impacted land to be conserved and wisely used.

In this rezoning request we urge careful consideration of all costs and benefits including: economic, community impact, environmental and eventual reclamation requirements.

Clayton County CAN is listening to property owners, neighbors, communities, county elected officials and appointees in an effort to make all stakeholders aware of the questions and issues in regards to benefits, costs and risks associated with the possible expansion of underground mining and open pit operations and measures that can be taken to address concerns.

To contact our organization, email mail@claytoncountycan.com or search for us on Facebook as Clayton County Conservation Awareness Network.

Daryl Bruxvoort

Chair, Clayton County Awareness Network Committee for Responsible Mining

Elkader