WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Company looks to mine sand in town near Eleva

Trempealeau County (WQOW) - An informational meeting was held on Monday night to let Chimney Rock residents know about a potential sand mine that could call the area home.

The Town of Chimney Rock is southwest of Eleva in Trempealeau County.  Independence was the site of the meeting on Monday.  There was a limit of 150 people that could fit in the bank where the meeting was held and that number was being pushed.

Carbo Ceramics wants to mine about 130 acres in Chimney Rock.  The company had representatives there to give a presentation about what it wants to do.

People expressed concerns about the beauty of their land being compromised.  Another big issue was truck traffic.  Carbo Ceramics said there would be 5 to 10 trucks driving by per hour.  For one resident, the sand mine would be less than 300 feet from his home and he says the scenario is all too familiar.  Zeb Strain says, "We moved away from sand mines, it wasn't this kind of sand, it was road gravel, and we had to deal with that where we lived before... something I am not looking forward to again."

"If you could pick a bad place logistically to move semis in and out, I mean that's the place.  There are so many downsides, what I'm wanting to hear is, what is the upside?" says John Hepfler who is looking to retire on his property in Chimney Rock. 

No decisions were made on Monday night.  As of now, Carbo Ceramics does have the option to buy the land.   There are many steps in the process before a mine is approved, one of which would be to hold a public hearing.  No time frame was given as to when things could start.