The “Stop Iola Mine” Facebook page now has 209 followers with 169 likes and the local commentary about the proposed mine has been a constant daily conversation.
This Facebook page posts links to local news articles about the proposed mine. It also posts information about what a sand mine can mean for residents near it concerning potential health and ground water pollution.
Ali Johnson is a member of the Iola Car Show staff and it is apparent in these conversations that she was not speaking on behalf of the ICS or its board but both entities were aware of her individual commentary.
It is also apparent in the discussions that some people aren’t aware that HeadpspringIS.com has carried information related to this controversy on several occasions and also posts notices about such meetings.
A posting on Nov. 28 had the following discourse which started by a “fact check” of a quote from Iola Car Show Executive Director Joe Opperman, “The operation is two loaders and a conveyer.” This comment was made by Mr. Opperman on a previous post in response to a community member’s question: https://tinyurl.com/4f37rwyk)
Here is what was said in the original post:
Fact Check: This statement is FALSE.
In the Operations and Reclamation Plan, it calls out in section 4.3.3 “Equipment & Noise” that “operator equipment used during mining and reclamation operations will consist of the following: Front end loaders, screening equipment, rock crushers, conveyors, small generators, dump trucks, haul trucks, bulldozers, excavators, tractors, tractor-trailers, graders, skid steers, disc, seeders, pick-up trucks, water trucks and employee personal vehicles.”
We have asked Mr. Opperman if the Operations and Reclamation Plan will be updated to reflect his statement, and are awaiting his response.
For reference, you can view the Operations and Reclamation Plan for this proposal here: https://tinyurl.com/3ysj8vcw
What follows is a sampling of the comments to the post with poster names included:
Corey Zimmerman
I guess this is as good as post as any to post this comment. I don’t live in Iola anymore, but I used to, and I wanted to say a few things about this whole situation. First of all, I enjoy the car show, and it is very important to me. I am a car enthusiast. I have gone every year since I could walk, and have volunteered in many facets. Part hauler, breakfast, campground, you name it. Additionally, my first car at 16 was an old car, and I continue to bring it every year. But I have to say, the response from the car show and it’s employees to townspeople who are concerned about their health is very very off-putting. It comes off as “you should be thankful for us”, but in reality, the car show should be thankful for the community. The amount of volunteer hours is an amazing achievement, and I think it is an interesting strategy to engage in facebook drama and attacking town members, while at the same time relying on them to run the show. I hate to see these comments.
My second point is that I have lived next to two active operations. While I don’t have cancer or anything like that, I wanted to give an anecdotal report of what living next to a sand pit is like. The first one was in Iola. When my family bought the house, over 20 years ago now, it was promised that it would be shutting down. It is still open. It is a small operation, but the eyesore it creates, along with the disruption is enough to cause the level of outrage we are seeing here. Being awoken early in the morning by rocks being dumped from 10 feet up into a dump truck bed is not pleasant, and it’s obvious that no one else would want that either. The second one was when I lived in fond du lac briefly. The dust from this operation was horrible. My aforementioned car was literally never clean. There was nothing I could do. Dust coated most everything, which is incredibly annoying.
Ok, finally, the claims of misinformation and all that are way off base. Stop Iola mine is simply going off of what is in the proposal, and then researching scientific, peer reviewed, reputable studies about the impacts of non Metallic mining. I have a science degree in environmental studies, and people are right to be concerned about the environment.
A mine is not the only way to keep money coming in. I feel the car show staff, at least those that are very public facing, could benefit by plugging into car culture more (for example, not knowing a countach when you see it is pretty bad). Bring in Doug Demuro, or Clarkson, Hammond, and May. Or host cars and coffee events, or become the host of a central Wisconsin version of automotion, or hold a new car show where manufacturers bring in new models, etc etc etc.
Ali Johnson
This is what Faulks had stated at the meeting at the Village of Iola. Lora, you weren’t in attendance, but I was – let me explain the context to you. They put all of that equipment on the list so it covers them in case they need to bring anything extra in. Nothing needs to be updated, Joe was simply re-iterating a general remark made by Faulks on what this mine would have.
Sara Mendoza
And what facts do you have to prove this statement. Has the air been tested around that site? I would love to see the data as this is now my main research focus. I love our community.
Ali Johnson
Faulks has to apply for permits to operate a mine. They have to meet MSHA standards as well as DNR and state standards. The meeting is the perfect place to discuss if they have been approved of their permits and maintain the standards set forth by those permits!
Sara Mendoza
Can you guarantee the community that the grounds won’t look like the mine in Waupaca? Several islands. Wonder what they are made of? Has anyone tested the water in that area? Why no houses near that area? Why does it look so black on the map. I wanna see this in person.
I would hope the car show grounds management would have looked into some of this knowing the community would ask questions.
Ali Johnson
All our questions were asked and answered at the village meeting!
Sara Mendoza
Why didn’t the car show notify the community? Like a letter notification to all residents. I feel the first meeting was hush hush. I had no idea about the first meeting. Interesting.
Ali Johnson
Sara, the community is notified of the village meeting through requirements set forth by the state of Wisconsin. Faulks and the Car Show notified members of the community (i.e.) neighbors as required, nothing was hidden and no one from the Village of Iola attended the village meeting. Here is the statement from the Village website;
This meeting and all other meetings of the Iola Village Board are open to the public. Proper notice has been posted in accordance with Wisconsin Statutes so the citizenry may be aware of the time, place, and agenda of this meeting.
Joanne Davis
Sara Mendoza – We were not notified about the first meeting either. We learned about the second meeting only by chance, so we attended. When I asked about future notification, I was told Iola has 3 bulletin boards around town where they are required to be posted. The Scandi board chairman spoke up indicating he would send out a letter for the Dec 14th meeting. We did receive ours. We are under the impression that Faulks & car show will only fulfill the legal obligation that is required. When I spoke with our local DNR representive he informed me that it is common for gravel pit permits to be applied for as quickly & quietly as possible because they are aware of opposition/push back from area residents once they catch wind of the proposal. Imagine that? LOL. I was thanked by our DNR guy for showing an interest and advocating for our natural surroundings. He encourages the residents to band together to fight permit approval because once they obtain their permit & start the mining operation it’s almost impossible to stop them at a later date. Just ask the residents and little wolf town chairman Alan Moede in their battle with the Theil gravel pit on Bladwin Rd Manawa.
Sara Mendoza
Ali Johnson – So we as a community have to search a local website for meeting dates? What about the elders in the community that don’t have or use internet? You should be notifying all of us. Every way possible if this was not a hush hush push through project. Faulks is not buying the land. The car show will still own it. So yes you should be responsible to answer all of our questions period. 15 year’s is a long time.