MMRB Minutes

MEETING
CITY OF WALKER
MINERAL MINING REVIEW BOARD
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
3:00 p.m.

The meeting of the Mineral Mining Board of Review was called to order by Scott Conners, at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall, 4243 Remembrance Rd., N.W., Walker, Michigan.

Members present: Scott Conners; Mark Koning; Frank Wash; and Gary Voogt. Member absent: Steve Versluis. Also present: Jeff Nelson, Building Official; Dick Denney, Deputy Building Official; Bonnie Broadwater, Engineering Dept. and Bonnie Antcliff, Recording Secretary.

Property located at 2471 Butterworth, 41-13-33-400-003

2468 O’Brien, 41-13-33-200-003

2472 O’Brien, 41-13-33-200-012

Applicant & Mining Meekhof’s Lakeside Dock, Inc.

Contractor: 16871 120^th Ave.

Nunica, Mi. 49448

Owners: Meekhof Properties, LLC Richard Oliver

16861 120^th Ave. 2472 O’Brien

Nunica, Mi. 49448 Grand Rapids, Mi. 49534

Meekhof Properties has requested approval for a mineral mining license.

Scott Conners reviewed the application and site plan submitted.

Jeff Nelson stated that we did receive the letter of credit for this application. We did not receive a letter for the fence certification. We had one stipulation from last year that the reclamation on Phase 5 & 6 be redone for next year to reflect soil borings.

Bonnie Broadwater stated that everything seems to be fine on this site and there are no ongoing soil erosion problems or sediment or tracking.

Scott Conners stated that the DEQ requires us to do soil erosion inspections on all the mineral mining sites. We are going to have to formalize that, so we are going to ask all of mineral mining applicants to fill out the paperwork. We will not charge anymore money or for the monthly inspections but this should be a condition for the license. This will protect both the operators and the City.

Doug Meekhof stated that last year the Board stated that they wanted the final reclamations on the plans to be changed to show what actually has been restored. We have addressed that on the plan. Phase 1 has all been restored. He then pointed out the site plan with explanations. The contours in Phase 2 reflect the final contours. One of the big things this year was the lowering of the oil well along Butterworth. We worked with Pat Goodale to get that down. The grade is back up all around the oil well and it is almost restored. We have redone the Phases to more accurately show what is being done on the site.

Scott Conners asked what two piles on the plan were?

Doug Meekhof replied that those are top soil piles.

Scott Conners stated that just south of the Oliver property there is a 30 ft. proposed setback line that is required to preserve a buffer around adjacent properties and there are reclamation grades shown in there all the way to the property line.

Mr. Meekhof replied that is an error on the plan.

Scott Conners stated that needs to be fixed before we can approve the plan.

Mark Koning moved and Frank Wash supported the motion to open the public hearing.

Motion carried 4 to 0.

John Sproat 2386 O’Brien stated that Meekhof’s property borders his property in several places. He wanted to know what impact this will have on his property. He also asked about a dried up creek bed.

Doug Meekhof replied they should not be affecting his property.

Mr. Sproat asked about the large sink holes that on his property and join into Meekhof’s property. He asked above cave-ins, sink holes and the water table.

Scott Conners replied that these questions should be directed to the DEQ. The City does not have a lot of regulations concerning the ponds, wetlands, etc.

Mark Koning moved and Frank Wash supported the motion to close the public hearing.

Motion carried 4 to 0.

Scott Conners asked about the firing range on this site.

Mr. Meekhof replied that there is some good sand there and we will probably be talking to the City about this in the future. Right now we are staying away from there.

Scott Conners replied that perhaps the Meekhof’s should get together with the Police Department so that they have a fair warning if that is going to go away in the next year or so.

Gary Voogt stated that south of the firing range along Butterworth it looks like there is a distinctive ridge and where that 660 and 556 is drawn the ridge is going to disappear. He asked if a little dirt could be left at the south corner of the firing range and let that ridge hang over toward the ridge that is on Butterworth to keep everything back.

Doug Meekhof replied that we are hardly going in there anyway the way it is drawn now. He does not feel this is an issue. He went on to say that there is a lot of sand here and he felt that there should be discussions with the City regarding the location of the firing range.

Scott Conners replied do not wait for another year to have these discussions. If you want to submit another plan we can look at that throughout the year.

Mark Koning moved and Gary Voogt supported the motion to approve the Mineral Mining license for 2471 Butterworth until February 28, 2007.

The Board imposed the following conditions:

1. Fence certification.

2. Preserve 30 ft. setback and buffer around parcel 41-13-33-200-010.

3. Modify grades at S.E. corner of site unless they want to modify grades on plan to deal with the firing range.

4. Obtain a soil erosion permit.

Motion carried 4 to 0.

Property located at 2325 Butterworth, 41-13-34-300-016

2204 O’Brien, 41-13-34-100-018

Applicant & Mining Meekhof’s Lakeside Dock, Inc.

Contractor: 16861 120^th Ave.

Nunica, Mi. 49448

Owner: Meekhof Properties, LLC

16861 120^th Ave.

Nunica, Mi. 49448

Scott Conners reviewed the application and site plan reviewed.

Jeff Nelson stated that we need a fence certification for this site. We have received the letter of credit. The condition from last year was that a temporary sedimentation basin be incorporated in Phase 1 at the west end.

Bonnie Broadwater, Engineering Dept. stated that there are existing soil erosion controls to prevent sedimentation on the site.

Doug Meekhof stated that we have revised the final contours on this plan to reflect what we are doing here. He went on to say that there was not a lot of work done here in the past year. This pit goes from clay to sand. He then pointed out the site plan with explanations.

Gary Voogt stated that the plan should show a 30 ft. setback but it is drawn as 10 ft. with contours. The north and west line shows a 10 ft. setback and should be 30 ft.

Mr. Meekhof replied that we are staying 30 ft. from the property line and the plan should reflect that.

Gary Voogt moved and Frank Wash supported the motion to open the public hearing.

Motion carried 4 to 0.

Dan Jager, 2346 O’Brien stated that they have been here for 5 or 6 years. He does not feel there are any problems with setbacks on this site. How much longer are they going to be mining here?

Mr. Meekhof replied that we would have been out of here by now, but when we sold the property to the golf course, they wanted to mine sand there. He went on to say that it should be pretty fast now. A lot of sand went for Rivertown Mall. We are going to be more aggressive now.

Mr. Jager asked if they were going into Phase 3 & 4?

Mr. Meekhof replied that they bored there a few years ago and there is deep sand in here. He did not feel they had 5 years left here.

John Sproat 2386 O’Brien stated that he has bought the Asmond home and wants to know if his property is going to be affected?

Mr. Meekhof replied that we will stay 30 ft. back from your property line.

Frank Wash moved and Gary Voogt supported the motion to close the public hearing.

Motion carried 4 to 0.

Scott Conners felt it would be a good idea for the Board to do a site visit out here this spring. It has changed a lot and it would be good to see it. We could see the drainage and fill areas and get a better idea of the whole thing.

Frank Wash moved and Gary Voogt supported the motion to approve the Mineral Mining license at 2325 Butterworth until Febuary 28, 2007.

The Board imposed the following conditions:

1. Fence certification be provided.

2. Adjust the contours at the SE corner of property.

3. Revised plan by March 1 showing 30 ft. setbacks and not 10 ft.

4. Soil erosion contours be put on plan.

5. The Board meet on site in the spring 6 weeks after revised plan is submitted.

Motion carried 4 to 0.

Gary Voogt moved and Mark Koning supported the motion to adjourn the Mineral Mining meeting at 3:55 p.m.

Motion carried 4 to 0.

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Walker, MI  49534
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