Northwoods Neighborhood
Preserving and Enforcing the Town of Round Lake’s Non-Metallic Mining Licensing Ordinance
Let’s Protect Our Northwoods Community.
Mining activity in the Town of Round Lake, Wisconsin, has increased significantly due to The Preserve development and other projects. We have seven active gravel/rock-crushing operations in our Town—including four near Hildreth, Twin Lake and Gravel Pit Roads where they intersect with Highway 77. There are multiple mine expansions, reactivations and changes in ownership occurring. We recognize the need for gravel and we support responsible mining that complies with applicable laws and regulations.
To protect residents, property owners and the environment, the Town of Round Lake Non-Metallic Mining Licensing Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2022-04) was passed in 2022 by the previous Town administration after a thoughtful process. The ordinance mandates a 3,000-foot setback, noise caps, dust mitigation, air and water quality monitoring, and annual inspections. Any new operator or expansion since the ordinance was enacted in 2022 is required to have both a Sawyer County Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and a separate Operator’s License from the Town of Round Lake.
Why The Ordinance Matters
- Protecting private wells
- Preserving lake levels
- Limiting dust and noise impacts
- Protecting property values
- Maintaining the Northwoods character of our community
UPDATE: At a Board meeting on July 15, 2026, our coalition helped persuade the TORL Board of Supervisors not to change the Non-Metallic Mining Licensing Ordinance for now. Instead, they passed a motion to refer the ordinance to the Plan Commission to work on the few amendments recommended by Town attorney–who, it was revealed, otherwise called the ordinance “enforceable.” Arguments by our own counsel helped the Board appreciate the legal strength of the ordinance.
However, the owner of a nearby mine confirmed at the meeting that he does intend to expand onto neighboring property, and another will be seeking a new County CUP to soon take over and mine an inactive pit. Our policy work must now be directed toward mine-by-mine vigilance. Both these expansions would fall well within the 3,000-foot setback dictated by our Town ordinance. These expansions will test how serious the Town Board is about enforcing our ordinance. Mine owners argue that Sawyer County’s 1,000-foot zoning setback, along with federal permit rules, are adequate protection for us neighbors.
Concerned citizens will still be working to compel open government and keep mines to their current footprints. Our specific goals are:
- Continue affirming the legal validity of our Town regulations as they relate to Wisconsin Act 12 and Sawyer County Zoning
- Participate in Land Use Planning Commission meetings where the ordinance is being interpreted and revised, per the Town attorney
- Contest CUP applications that would grant operation within our Town 3,000-foot setback for all new operators and expanding mines
- Ensure meaningful safety inspections
- Press for Wis. Open Meetings Law compliance to prevent non-public agreements with mine owners
- Advocate for transparent, qualified town leadership that prioritizes residents and property owners
We all play a part in protecting the Northwoods character so important to our quality of life and property values. Stay informed, share information with your neighbors, and attend Town meetings.
If you know of anyone who should be on our contact list, please let us know. To help defray costs, please contribute financially:
- Write checks to “Northwoods Neighborhood, LLC” and mail to P.O. Box 54, Hayward, WI. 54843
For questions and to be added to our contact list, email info@northwoodsneighborhood.com.
News and Details
Action Planning
An engaged community is the best way to preserve our ordinance. We host meetings to plan action steps for our challenge.
This summer is very important. The ordinance was preserved at the July 15 board meeting, but we must stay engaged as the Plan Commission considers specific “tweaks” in its application language.
There are also two mine expansions around the corner. They need to apply for new Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) with Sawyer County and then either contest Town licensing on legal grounds, or apply for a license.
Select Materials has said it wants to expand onto adjacent land at the corner of Hildreth Rd. and Hwy 77 ; and Miles Mathy (operator of the former Mrotek pit), plans to reactivate the former Kramer pit southeast of Hwy 77 and Gravel Pit Road.
Both of these expansions require new County CUPs and a first-time Town license. We need to monitor their applications and prepare our response at both levels.
If you would like to be notified of developments and neighborhood action meetings, please email info@northwoodsneighborhood.com. We also urge your support of the costs involved in our effort (see home page).
It’s also critical to show up and comment at Town Planning Commission meetings and Board of Supervisors meetings, as well as Sawyer County Zoning Commission meetings. To check the Town’s meeting schedule and agendas, visit the Town website here. To see County Zoning meetings, check here.
Progress So Far
At the Annual Electors Meeting with the Board of Supervisors in April, we unanimously passed a resolution stating strong citizen support for the ordinance as-is. The resolution also urged the Board to observe the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, which places the highest priority on protecting the character of our Northwoods community. (The Board tabled our resolution.)
We have since had four successes in holding mines to account:
1) We alerted Sawyer County Zoning and the Wis. Department of Transportation to flagrant permit violations by a local mine. They both issued Cease and Desist orders. Now we are urging the County to require thorough reclamation of the disturbed sound barrier.
2) We persuaded the Town Land Use Planning Commission to recommend to the Board that they budget for a mine inspector and obtain and review all County conditional use permits (CUPs) for mines in the Town of Round Lake to see whether they are in compliance.
3) We obtained and prepared legal counsel to help us defend the ordinance at the critical July 15 Board meeting, where she was able to answer legal interpretations brought by mine owners. These arguments, along with the Town attorney’s, helped stay a vote to gut the ordinance in favor of mine owners.
4) We’ve organized a public information campaign and media relations efforts that help engage more of our community.
In these ways, we’ve sought to work within our system of government—to inform and collaborate with agencies, keep mining operations compliant with agreements, and ensure government remains responsive to citizen voices. This requires ongoing vigilance.
Ordinance Protections
To protect citizens, property owners and the environment, the Town of Round Lake Non-Metallic Mining Licensing Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2022-04) was passed in 2022 by the previous Town administration after a thoughtful process and with expertise from Midwest Environmental Advocates.
The ordinance mandates a 3,000-foot setback (between the property boundary of a mine and the nearest residence), noise caps, dust mitigation, air and water quality monitoring, and annual inspections.
Any new operator or expansion since the ordinance was enacted is required to have both a Sawyer County Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and an operator’s license from the Town of Round Lake. Read the ordinance on the Town website here. See the important 3,000-foot setback amendment here.
Why can’t we just rely on Sawyer County for mine regulation? Why have a Town licensing ordinance that mine owners may view as duplicative?
1. On technicalities, Sawyer Co. seems to grandfather permits for mines that have been inactive for years and that have a completely new owner/operator.
2. They don’t enforce permit conditions unless citizens report violations. We learned that the hard way with the illegal road built out of the old Thompson pit.
3. Based on inspection forms, County mine inspections are limited. They confirm taxed acreage, but do not check for watershed hazards or any public safety issues.
All of this means that unless our Town ordinance is preserved and enforced, we have very little protection for our private wells, lake levels, air quality and property values.