LS County Board considers permits

Jake Keohen

Montgomery Messenger

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners considered applications for two conditional use permits as part of a brief meeting agenda Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Kathy Brockway presented the following requests for action:

• Le Sueur County Parks Department (applicant), Le Sueur County (owner), requests a conditional use permit (CUP) to operate a four-site campground in a special protection district on a recreational development lake, Lake Washington, in Kasota Township. CUP approved as written. Sites are for day-by-day use and campers must call for reservations.

• UNIMIN Minnesota Corporation, Le Sueur (applicant), UNIMIN Minnesota Corporation, Kasota (owner), requests a CUP to expand an existing mining operation consisting of 1,334.27 acres, with 1,134.56 mineable acres, in a conservancy district of Kasota Township. A mandatory Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required for this project. The planning commission recommended tabling the application until the EIS is complete.

The planning commission also recommended that the county board appoint the following members to a subcommittee to review the EIS: Jeanne Doheny, Don Reak, Chuck Retka and Gordy Traxler.

Planning commission recommendations were approved.

The county board also confirmed the appointment of Paul Ehmke as 1st District representative on the board of adjustment.

Brockway recommended use of a forfeited vehicle by the staff in environmental services. The vehicle, a 1998 Ford, is now in the possession of the sheriff's department. Chief Deputy Tom Doherty also spoke in favor of the action, including use of other vehicles when they become available. Request was approved.

Also on Tuesday:

• A public hearing on an ordinance governing parks under the jurisdiction of the county board was held at 10 a.m. Purpose of the ordinance is to secure the quiet