Sand Mine Bill would Limit Burdensome Regulations

MacIver News Service | October 25, 2013

[Madison, Wisc…] The legislature started debate on a bill yesterday that would limit the ability of local governments to regulate sand mines, and instead allow state regulators to oversee the sand mining industry. The debate became rather heated and lasted most of the day.

While this debate is just beginning to be looked at by local media, the MacIver Institute was the first to investigate local regulations more than a year ago. The video below discusses how local regulations can hamper the industry and possibly make businesses move to a different area.

Wood County Thumbs Nose at Thriving Industry, Jobs

Originally posted September 25, 2012

[Marshfield, Wisc…] As sand mining companies flourish in rural Wisconsin, creating thousands of jobs and pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into those economies, local governments are trying to cash in.

Wood County is implementing a road usage fee on the companies, they say is disproportional to their use. The fee amounts to a 5 percent tax on Sand Creek Sand, and the company is now considering expansion plans elsewhere.