Ottawa Council Sets Public Hearing For Controversial Sand Mine Terminal

If you’re interested one way or another about the proposed sand mine east of Starved Rock State Park, set aside time on Wednesday, June 19^th.

That’s when the Ottawa City Council and Ottawa Planning Commission will hold a joint public hearing and meeting to discuss proposals from Archer Daniels Midland to transport sand for the controversial mine.  ADM is asking for a conditional use permit for a barge fleeting operation along Route 71 and also requesting to annex the property into the city of Ottawa.

Despite the permit process taking well over a year, Ottawa activist Farley Andrews says the Mississippi Sand proposal is still being rushed through.  He says the city needs to look at the “destruction of life quality” in cities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania that are near silica sand mines.

The public hearing on June 19^th will start at 7 inside the Ottawa City Hall.