Proposed gravel mine sparks public backlash

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) -March 3rd saw residents near the site notified that Sam Borneke, a local contractor had applied for a Conditional Use permit to create a mine within the conservation district that is just a few hundred feet from Red Jacket Valley Park and nearby residences.

“So many people utilize the park,” said nearby resident Eric Weiss. “The county’s done a great job of putting money into it, rebuilding it, and the mine is going to be directly adjacent to it. So there’s going to be a lot of noise pollution. You don’t really want to come in and go hiking, fishing, and have to listen to that machinery.”

“This area is in a floodplain. It’s also a wetland, and we have concerns about that and what the mining operation will do once the mining operation floods,” said Charles Eltonga, another nearby resident.

The parcel of land is around 9 acres, a relatively small size that has residents questioning whether it would be worth the deforestation required for construction.

“When you take away all of the costs associated with the operation we’re only left with a few hundred thousand dollars possibly in profit. And that’s not a lot for the costs that’s going to the county and the people that enjoy this place,” Eltonga said.

A change.org petition was created by some of the residents around the area, a post that has gathered thousands of responses between signatures, comments and video responses, and a public effort has begun to organize at the Township Board Meeting that would approve, deny, or delay the project.

“The petition is one side of it, but when people actually come to the meeting to share their feelings or just make a presence, that all comes together into what we’re hoping to be, what they see everyone feels,” said Eltonga.

KEYC reached out to Borneke for comment on the project, but never received a response from the contractor.

The meeting to discuss the mine will be on Wednesday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mankato Township Hall.

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