Colorado company applies to resume mining

A Colorado company is applying to resume limestone mining operations on 80 acres in Old Appleton, according to a public notification letter reviewed by Cape Girardeau County commissioners Thursday.

Lafarge West Inc. of Westminster, Colo., has applied to accept the transfer of the mine's Missouri Department of Natural Resources permit from Martin Marietta Materials Inc. of Raleigh, N.C., and conduct mining operations effective May 28 to Jan. 1, 2035. The mine is closed and has been for five years or more, Associate Commissioner Paul Koeper said.

"Written comments, a request for an informal public meeting, and/or a formal hearing may be made by any person with a direct, personal interest in one or more of the factors that the Missouri Land Reclamation may consider in transferring a permit ... within fifteen (15) days of the final notice of publication date," said the letter, dated April 20.

For more information, contact the DNR Land Reclamation Commission at 800-361-4827 or at mining@dnr.mo.gov.

Other business

In other business, commissioners awarded a bid Thursday to perform grading improvements on County Road 525, east of Pocahontas.

Steve's Hauling and Excavating of Oak Ridge was the lowest bidder at $103,018 among the eight proposals accepted Monday and reviewed by Scott Bechtold, county highway administrator.

Other bidders included ASA Asphalt Inc. of Advance, Mo., at $106,528; Tom Beussink Excavating Inc of Jackson at $112,828; Eagle Excavating and Trucking LLC of Jackson at $115,598; Elmer Buchheit Construction of Friedheim at $119,659; Jokerst Inc. of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., at $120,915; and Big River Resources Corp. of Jackson at $179,768. The county estimated it could do the work for $180,340.

About two miles of the road will be graded and surfaced with 5,400 tons of crushed rock. Nearly 500 feet of culvert will be replaced and more than four acres of soil will be seeded and mulched as part of the project.

The county also reviewed the sole bid submitted for a used vehicle for the Juvenile Office. Morlan Chrysler bid $12,000 for a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban.

Koeper raised the need for a hot-oil storage tank to supply materials for the asphalt patching machine purchased recently in a governmental transfer from Iron County. Koeper said the highway department travels to New Madrid, Mo., to obtain oil for patching projects and having a local source would decrease fuel costs. A motion was approved to request bids for the tank.

salderman@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

1 Barton Sq., Jackson, MO