Neighbors' complaints addressed in amendment approved Wednesday

Noise, dust and well water integrity are some of the concerns neighbors have with Morse Bros./Knife River expanding its gravel mining operation near Santiam Bluffs Road in Jefferson.

Morse Bros. Inc., doing business as Knife River, had asked for a "comprehensive plan text amendment to include a 216-acre portion of a 451.21-acre property in the Linn County aggregate inventory as a significant aggregate resource site, an aggregate resource overlay zone amendment, and a development permit for aggregate mining and processing."

The issue came before the Linn planning commission May 12 for a recommendation, and the board of commissioners held a public hearing Wednesday.

Christina Lask lives on Santiam Bluffs Road and would like the hours of operation limited to standard business hours instead of "all through the night," as she says the company currently works.

She would also like a buffer of trees placed around the site, both to limit sound and improve its appearance. She said the current noise level is "getting to be unacceptable" and she is worried it will only get worse.

Diana Elms also lives on Santiam Bluffs. She rides a motorcycle and said Knife River is "failing to clean up the spilled rocks on the roadways, particularly on the turns." She describes this as a "constant problem."

Many of those commenting on the mining operation said they had been ignored or treated rudely at the May 12 planning commission meeting.

"My neighbors and I all sat in that room for five hours, till almost 11 at night," Elms said. She said the neighbors were not given adequate time to voice their concerns to the planning commission and asked that the record be left open. It was not.

At Wednesday's board meeting, about half of the neighbor group was heard before the board decided to recess until 2 p.m. for scheduling reasons. When the group reassembled, the others were heard.

After some discussion, the board approved the amendment with conditions, chairman Roger Nyquist said. It determined the mining operation must be limited to between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday. Knife River may not use Santiam Bluffs, a residential road, for through truck traffic. And finally, it must ensure in writing that residents have quality water.

"If there is a problem, they have four to six hours get it remedied," Nyquist said of the water. "That could include trucking in good water if needed."

After the meeting ended, "Both sides said thanks," he added.