News : Supervisors unanimously vote in favor of Coots sand pit on 24th Ave. Dr.

After spending four hours in two separate meetings on the issue, the Benton County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a land use change request that will allow Coots Materials, Inc., to create and operate a sand pit on 24th Avenue Drive north of Vinton.

Residents who live near the site on the gravel road shared several concerns; many of them had met before the first hearing to discuss their fears. Every resident from that area who spoke during the two hearings opposed the sand pit.

Opponents had cited traffic safety concerns, the possible impact on property values, dust control, diesel pollution and water quality issues.

Approving a land use change is “a piece of cake” when nobody opposes a request, said Supervisor Terry Hertle. But addressing requests like this one is tough, he added, because “either way, it affects people’s lives.”

Don Frese also said deciding to vote yes was a tough decision. “We’re just trying to do the right thing,” he said.

Supervisor Todd Wiley recalled a time when his family opposed a change made by government: The construction of I-380, which cut through their family farm.

“Our family fought 380, and even Vinton voted it down,” he said, referring to city leaders’ request to locate the four-lane interstate further away from city limits.

But now, said Wiley, the 380 “does not cause us angst.”

Wiley went on to tell that residents that “if you are convinced the sand pit will ruin your life, it will.”

The supervisors cited the county’s comprehensive plan, which stipulates that there are businesses that must be located within rural areas of Benton County, including sand pits and quarries.

Rick Erickson of the Vinton Street Department told the supervisors that the ratio of transportation cost to product cost is 2:1 for sand and other quarry products. He said that forcing the city to purchase sand from a more distant source would considerably increase the cost of sand used for ice control and other purposes.

Geologist answers questions

Frese said his biggest concern was changes in the water chemistry. But he said those concerns were answered by a geologist who attended the meeting.

Important information about the impact of the sand pit on the Cedar River basin came from University of Iowa geologist Rick Langel.

Dave Coots had invited Langel to Tuesday’s meeting, but said he had not spoken to the geologist before the hearing, and did not know what Langel planned to say.

Residents of the area asked for Langel’s input on water levels and the risk of arsenic and cobalt pollution – topics that had been mentioned in the first discussion two weeks earlier.

Langel told the audience that cobalt is very rare in Iowa, although arsenic is present in many places throughout the state. He added that an operation like a sand pit is not likely to cause any increase in arsenic in wells near the river.

Also, Langel explained, the rise and fall of river levels will have much more impact on ponds near the river channel than the sand dredging operation.

Dave Coots told the audience that one rainfall replaces more water than he removes in a year of hauling sand.

Neighbors’ views

The supervisors heard many concerns from those who live near the proposed site.

“You need to prove to us that it’s going to be safe,” said Tracy Pflughaupt.

Brian Youngblut, who lives in the Northfield Ranch subdivision, expressed concerns about property values during the first meeting, telling Coots that it is Coots’ responsibility to prove that the sand pit would not cause property values to decrease. On Tuesday, Youngblut addressed water quality concerns, saying that Coots and county leaders should conduct a study to prove that the sand pit will not cause any arsenic problems.

But Steve and Stacie Henry, who live near the current Coots sand pit on the west side of the river said that they have had no problems with water, noise or traffic issues in all the years they have lived there.

Stacie Henry told the supervisors she works from home and spends much time on the telephone speaking to clients. She said noise is never a problem. The couple told the supervisors that they have no concerns about their teen drivers sharing the busy gravel road with the trucks hauling sand.

Traffic concerns

Coots had said that expected an average of 13 trucks per day hauling sand from the site. Some residents expressed concerns about trucks turning onto or off of Highway 150, which curves toward Urbana at the intersection.

Wiley said he looked at the intersection, and has contacted the Iowa Department of Transportation to ask them to remove some cedar trees from the north ditch east of the corner. That, he said, would improve visibility.

Residents had also asked about the possibility of installing signs or warning signals to let drivers know that trucks use that intersection. Those things are also topics for local leaders to address with DOT officials.

Permitting process

While neighbors are likely to see some work beginning at the site in the near future, Coots said that the permitting process with the DNR will take some time. It is likely to be next year before the sand dredging process begins there.