Judge to decide on proposed sand mine

IOLA – All testimony has been compiled in regards to the proposed sand mine on the Iola Car Show Grounds and now the decision lies with Judge Jeffrey Wisnicky in Kewaunee County.
The proposed sand mine was first brought into discussion at the Town of Scandinavia in May of 2023 when the township recommended a denial of a conditional-use permit (CUP) for the mine to the Waupaca County Planning and Zoning Committee.
In October of 2024 the Waupaca County Board of Adjustments listened to over ten hours of testimony from representatives from the Iola Car Show and Faulks Brothers as well as the plaintiffs, namely neighbors to the proposed mine.
The Board of Adjustments delivered a ruling Oct. 25 to allow for the CUP to be granted, which is when Attorney Christa Westerberg, who is representing the plaintiffs, filed an appeal to the Board of Adjustments ruling.
It was decided with this new appeal that the case would be moved outside of the county, after all three judges within the county recused themselves last winter.
Greg Ambrosius, one of the plaintiffs named in the appeal, said he expects the decision will take a couple weeks to render.
For now the entirety of the testimony from all sides has been given to Judge Wisnecky, as the plaintiffs and defendants await his decision.