They talked about mining at the Oneida County Board meeting for more than four hours, but in the end three resolutions passed as they were presented.
The county was considering a rewrite of its mining ordinance prior to a change in state mining rules July 1.
That resolution passed unamended 15-5. A resolution to put a moratorium on bulk samping at proposed mine sites also passed, and the board approved a non-binding advisory referendum about mining at the town of Lynne which will appear on the November ballot.
Many of the people who spoke at a recent public hearing against either the proposed mining ordinance rewrite or mining in general spoke again during the boards public comment section, about two dozen in all.
Lac du Flambeau Tribal President William Wildcat, Sr...
"...The Lac du Flambeau tribe strongly opposes any changes in the Oneida County zoning and shoreland protection ordinance..."
Jean Roach of Pelican Lake...
"...the risk-benefit analysis is clear. We the citizens take all the risk of polluting our air, land and water and the mining company gets all the short-term benefit...."
When the board began debate and the offering of amendments, assistant corporation counsel Michael Fugle argued the county couldn't leave it's current ordinance in place as it would have a number of places where it wouldn't be enforceable after the law change, here in an exchange with supervisor Jack Sorenson...
"...wouldn't we have the pre-existing ordinance in place, even though in many places it's indefensible?(Fugle) You would have your unenforceable ordinance in place...."
With a perceived deadline approaching, the board rejected a number of amendments and passed the ordinance rewrite without amendment. The board also approved a moratorium on mining companies sampling large amounts of rock until the DNR approves it's new rules.
Voters will also have a chance in November to say yes or no to any mining on county forest land in the town of Lynne, where a large ore deposit has been eyed in the past.
