Karl Fate address the Oneida County Board of Supervisors Aug. 20, 2024. “If the Lynne site is leased, it will be a colossal betrayal of the public trust,” Fate said. Star Journal Photo

Chair sought clarity on handling mining inquiries

By Eileen Persike

Editor

RHINELANDER – An Oneida County resolution to give authority to the Forestry, Land and Recreation Committee to entertain unsolicited inquiries regarding mining filled the board room – and then some – at the Aug. 20 Board of Supervisors meeting.

The resolution, board chairman Scott Holewinski said, sought to clarify how these unsolicited inquiries for exploration, prospecting, bulk sampling and mining operation on county land would be handled. While it did not call for approval of a mine, more than 30 people spoke against the resolution, with many wondering why the topic is on the county board agenda again.

“I’m just a little perplexed why we’re here again this morning talking about this issue,” said Scott Kirby, Newbold resident. “You’re smarter than that; it’s a simple no. Constituents have already voted on this; we have already guided you; we’ve already said no.”

“This vote is the first step in inviting mining companies to work in the county,” Tabitha Benish said. “Your constituents, including myself, oppose risking the quality of our fresh water resources here in Oneida County. This doesn’t mean there will be a mine, but why would you be wasting taxpayer time and money to even entertain something when it’s obvious that we, the people, do not want a mine.”

A 2018 advisory referendum asking Oneida County residents if they approved of mining in the town of Lynne, located in the western part of the county.  Over 62% voted no. The Lynne deposit contains zinc sulfide ore that was discovered in 1990. It is estimated to contain 5.6 million tons of metals such as copper, lead, gold and silver. It is located near the Willow flowage.

The results of the referendum were not turned into law. Corporation Counsel Mike Fugle noted if the 2018 referendum were turned into law, it would have potentially stood only until the next county board took office.

“The board cannot pass a resolution today that says a future county board can’t do something,” Fugle said. “That’s the nature of county government.”

Holewinski explained what led up to his resolution and outlined what took place the previous two months.

He said he received a voicemail, email and certified letter in June, but did not respond. Forestry chair Bob Almekinder also received a voicemail to which he did not respond. Supervisor Russ Fisher took a call from the Wisconsin Counties Association that Holewinski contacted to set up a meeting in Madison. The Aug. 12 meeting was attended by Holewinski and Fisher, along with representatives from the WCA and Green Light Metals. Almekinder couldn’t be there.

“We discussed the history of the Lynne deposit, other deposits in northern Wisconsin, our mining ordinance and the resolution I was taking to the county board in August,” Holewinski said, adding that he wanted to “get the will of the current board” before any formal discussion about the Lynne deposit would move forward.

Holewinski said no discussion about the mining company took place.

“I was trying to be very transparent and not make a decision on my own and let this current county board decide on who should be in charge of these unsolicited requests,” Holewinski told the board.

Supervisor Steven Schreier said he takes exception to the way the whole thing evolved.

“I have to be honest; I struggle with your version of what you think transparency is,” Schreier said. “It appears it took you almost two months to come to the conclusion you needed to include others in your decision making process. Developing or creating policy after the fact – after you’ve already engaged in discussions with at least one mining company.”

Supervisor Billy Fried framed the resolution as a way to leave the door open to a new revenue source.

“As far as I can understand, our forest crop is not sustainable as far as the revenue we’ve been counting on; and we’ll only build on our challenge to find the revenues to maintain the services that we have in place,” Fried said.

Other supervisors debated whether the resolution was necessary at all after Oneida County Forestry Director Jill Nemec addressed board members.

“The Town of Lynne mine is on county managed law lands,” Nemec said. “We are dictated by statute to manage those lands, including any sort of inquiries about mining uses.”

The resolution was voted down 13-6.