Planning and Zoning Board sends a recommendation of denial for the Reilly Construction zoning change request to the Board of Supervisors!

The system really does work! Peoples voices have been heard and the recommendation of denial came from the P and Z Commission came after 75 minutes of public statements. On this night (6/17/13), everyone in attendance at the courthouse was not only an "Allamakee County Protector", they were also protectors of their children's and grandchildren's futures. They were the protectors of fishermen who use our trout streams, creeks and rivers. They were the protectors of hikers, campers, bikers and everyone who comes to northeast Iowa because they love they way this country looks - unspoiled.

Residents of both Allamakee and Winneshiek counties were well-represented at the meeting. Our thanks to the P and Z Commission for making an informed decision and listening to the peoples' voices. It is our fervent hope the Board of Supervisors hears the recommendation loudly and clearly.

There will be another public hearing with the Board of Supervisors. We will keep you posted so you can be there and be heard!

"It's like a runaway bulldozer coming at us at a hundred miles an hour!" - Ric Zarwell


"Allamakee Country preserves some of the most pristine rural landscape - cultural and physical - in the entire Midwest. Mining would have a tragic impact in every way imaginable. Anyone who looks at the history of mining can quickly see that it never provides what it claims. One need only look at West Virginia and eastern Kentucky to see the promise of that industry." - comment left by James D. on our CREDO petition to ban sand mining in Iowa

Please sign our petition to
ban frac sand mining in Iowa
Go Here!

We're over 1,500 signatures!
Thanks to everyone who's signed so far. Let's go for 2,000 next.
Please ask your friends and neighbors
to sign this petition to totally ban sand mining in Iowa!

Bridgeport, Wisconsin and the "Runaway Bulldozer" known as Pattison Sand Co., LLC

It came to our attention this morning, it appears Pattison Sand Company is going to get whatever they want from the Bridgeport, Wisconsin town officers and planning commision. One of the town officers, Rod Marfilius, has been instrumental in making sure the CUP goes through for Pattison. The company has been given every break, every possible condition to make sure they reap huge profits and are allowed to operate unencumbered by restrictive regulations by the town officers and the planning commision. Is it just a coincidence that Mr. Marfilius is also leasing a large portion of land to be mined by Pattison? This is a glaring example of how the industry will do whatever they can and whatever they want just to get at the sand and make a ton of money. The ironic part of this? Pattison isn't even a Wisconsin Company. The only people in the Bridgeport area who will gain anything from this mine are the people who hold positions of influence in the area...like Rod Marfilius.

UPDATE: This mine has been allowed to begin operation - despite the obvious demand by local residents that more research be done. Every possible relaxation or elimination of restrictions on the CUP was allowed by Bridgeport officials make it easy for Pattison Sand to begin operating on this stretch of the Wisconsin River.


Quote from Pattison's website: " Pattison Sand Company runs off a solid foundation of Core Values. These Values include Entrepreneurial Spirit, Integrity, Safety Culture: Everyone is responsible for safety and pursues it on a daily basis and Stewardship: Building a stronger company for future generations and improving our community as a whole."

We would like to issue an invitation to Pattison Sand Company, LLC to begin listing all the community improvements the Bridgeport operations will bring to the people who live there, the people who (used to) enjoy using the Wisconsin River at Bridgeport and the people who use the local roads for their commute every day. Please feel free to email those improvements to us here - we'll sure list them! 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 2012, Pattison Sand Company spent $30,000 to lobby Congress regarding "Mine Safety and Health Regulations as they affect small mines". Below is the required Federal Form showing that expenditure and their intention. We will try to obtain more specific information from Pattison Sand Company regarding just what it was they were specifically trying to lobby for or against. Stay tuned...
Monday, Jun 24 at 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Monday, Jul 1 at 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Monday, Jul 8 at 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Monday, Jul 15 at 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Below is a clip from Robert Nehman's film "Frac Sand Land". If you think the prospect of unchecked sand mining won't affect you, just take a look at this.
"GOOD FOR YOU GUYS!!  Keep up the great work... Unfortunately, the permit in my town was granted to EOG with very little restrictions.  They continue to haul 24 hours a day 6 days a week most weeks.  My basement is cracked from the blasting and my well is starting to lose water pressure.  I have yet to hear from EOG about fixing it and my town chairman is downright rude to me when I try to have these issues addressed. ("It's between you and EOG" ... thanks).  You guys keep up the good fight.  I hope you can protect your land because our land here in Cooks Valley is being raped for the almighty oil dollar."

The latest news we have received from Jane (at left in the trailer for "Frac Sand Land").

What you can do:

Letters are a great way to start! Write a letter or send an e-mail to the editor of your local paper:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Standard Newspaper • P.O. Box 286 • 15 1st St. NE, Waukon, IA 52172
Telephone 563-568-3431 • Fax 563-568-4242 • news@waukonstandard.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Decorah Newspapers - Rick Fromm - Editor
fromm@decorahnewspapers.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can also let the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors know how you feel about frac sand mining. Current board members are Larry Schellhammer, Sherry Strub and Dennis Koenig -- Contact the Board of Supervisors:
Phone: (563) 568-3522 or by email at: boardofsupervisors@co.allamakee.ia.us
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors - We need to send the board letters of encouragement to implement an 18-month moratorium on sand mining and all of it's pervasive industrial tentacles. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you'd like to send e-mail to the members of the Iowa Legislature, drop us a note (staff@allamakeecountyprotectors.com) and we'll send you an easily importable text file with every e-mail address you'll need. All you have to do is "cut, paste and click".

Educate yourself...

The more you know about this issue, the easier to it is to see it's just not a good thing. Sand mining is destroying the Driftless Area - slowly but surely. There are some counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin where it just seems to be impossible to stop the machine. Here are three websites you should go through to stay on top of what is happening in these places that are so severely affected.
Sand Point Times - Houston County, Southeast Minnesota
Frac Sand Awareness Project - A regional collaborative dedicated to empowering, uniting and advocating for local communities affected by industrial silica sand mining
Save the Hills Alliance - Wisconsin Sand Mining Issues