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SAND ISSUES FRACTURING WOOD CO.
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 -- 2:50 pm
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
There’s a big debate raging in Wood County as Marshfield area supervisors try to protect mining companies from a fee to offset the damage they may do to area roads.
Action was delayed Tuesday on a resolution authored by Marshfield Supervisor Ed Wagner that would've prevented the County Highway Commissioner from collecting special fees from sand haulers.
Wagner said the fees would prevent economic growth.
"This is not a good business model," he complained, "Let's ask for some uniformity. Let's be partners with the businesses that are moving in, let's not be adversaries."
Supervisors heard a report indicating sand mines could bring a total investment of more than 160-million dollars in their first seven years of operation in Wood County.
But they would cause damage to area roads, explained Wood County Highway Commissioner Doug Passineau.
"In some cases, the roads aren't designed for (heavy vehicles). To rebuild a road that's severely damaged, this is probably worst-case-scenario, it's between $600,000 to $800,000 per mile," Passineau said.
Sand processing operators have said they would not hesitate to take their business elsewhere, if the hauling road fees are imposed.
There are currently three sand-processing facilities setting up shop in Marshfield, and one in the southern part of Wood County as well, Wagner said.
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