Waltham voters say no to new sand mines

The people of Waltham Township have spoken and they do not want any new sand mines. An advisory referendum asking if future requests for sand mines should be permitted failed with 84 percent of voters voting no.

The push for the referendum came after the Utica Village Board gave permission to a mining company to open a mine north of the Love’s Travel Stop.

Peru approves sand loading facility

All of the sand that’s mined in La Salle County has to be moved and usually that involves trucks and trains. Plans for a sand loading business on the north end of Peru received the green light from the Peru City Council.

EOG Resources plans to put in a facility for trucks to dump into railcars on the Peru rail spur north of Interstate 80. Mining won’t be allowed on the 95-acre site. All sand will have to be stored in an enclosure. A storm water runoff plan will be reviewed by the city engineer and the Illinois EPA.

The city council approved a special use Monday night.