Photo Credit: Still image capture from Price County video
At the Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Land Use Committee Meeting, a number of residents were present to speak during public comment regarding the proposed gravel pit and temporary asphalt plant in the Town of Worcester.
Brent Janak, who is part of the company applying for the gravel pit application, stated that he heard the residents' concerns, and they have made some changes to address those concerns.
Linda Schilling stated she reached out to the DNR to get more information. On June 5, the DNR called her back and asked for more information regarding the exact location of the proposed gravel pit and asphalt plant. When she provided the address, he informed her that it was a landfill area, because the Grandview Hotel had been buried there in 1988 after it was demolished. He said it would be a great concern to dig in that area or put a well there. He also stated that he had not been contacted about digging on that site. Linda stated the location can be verified on the DNR website.
Daniel Jorgenson requested objective evidence and data so that the board can make an informed decision.
Joseph Wengert spoke that he took surveys from this resort guests to see how his resort would be negatively impacted by a gravel pit or asphalt plant, and he said the results were dismal. He has three guests waiting to re-book until a decision is made regarding the gravel pit and asphalt plant.
Mary Kurth, who lives directly across from the proposed gravel pit, wanted to know who would regulate the changes and how come it was not mentioned in Janaks' plan about the dump site. She was wondering where the water table is and would like to know why Janaks aren't asked to do an Environmental Impact Statement given there is a dump site there.
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Tammy Melbauer said she brought her concerns to the chairman of the Town of Worcester, but he said it was outside his purview and jurisdiction. She said she is concerned with more truck traffic, and, if the permits are approved, she was requesting a reduced speed limit, the addition of a center line on the road, and a consideration of hours of operation. She said the road has congestion with a lot of pedestrian traffic.
After public comment, Chairman Robert "Bob" Kopisch stated that American Asphalt withdrew its application for the asphalt plant.
Proposed conditions for the gravel pit were presented by Zoning and Land Conservation Administrator Evan Lund, which included:
1. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours of operation with no hauling or crushing on Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day
2. Crushing can occur once per calendar year for a period no longer than four weeks
3. All applicable DNR administrative rules must be adhered to
4. Off-street parking for all vehicles at the property; no road parking
5. No crushing can occur within 500 feet of any residence that existed before May 21, 2026, unless the property owner gives written permission
6. A 50-foot unexcavated vegetative buffer must be along all property lines
7. 100-foot vegetative town road buffer must be maintained with a 60-foot exception for an access road
8. The pit floor shall be no lower than 1,480 feet elevation (using 2019 Price County LiDAR data), which equates to 30 to 35 feet deep. The static water table is 40 to 50 feet below so there is a buffer of then feet.
9. There cannot be greater than 90 decibels measured at the property line
10. The pit entrance must be at least 100 feet from any driveway that existed as of May 21, 2026.
11. No asphalt, cement, or blasting will be permitted. The permit only covers sand, gravel, and aggregate material crushing.
12. Solid waste shall not be placed in the gravel pit.
13. All debris and equipment must be removed after closure of the pit.
14. Access driveways shall be paved, crushed, or covered in recycled asphalt or stone within 100 feet of public roads.
15. Access should only be through designated points, and those points should be secured when not in operation.
Evan stated that there are three gravel pits on Hills Road, so any truck that goes to the east already drives down East Solberg Lake Road.
The committee approved the conditions as discussed, modifying the hours of operation from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and no operation on Sundays.
Committee Member Michelle Drobnik asked if they were setting a precedent with the gravel pit decisions. It was discussed that conditional use permits would continue to be on a case-by-case basis.
The committee will further discuss the gravel pit and if the conditional use permit may get approved at the June 18, 2026, meeting.
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