At the October 21 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, Jeremiah Daggett’s application for a conditional use permit for a portable sawmill was discussed during a public hearing. The sawmill will be on his property located in Section 1, Jordan Township.
Daggett explained the portable sawmill will have a 36-foot cut capacity with a 17-foot bed which will limit the size of the logs the sawmill can handle. The sawmill and unsawn logs will be placed on a flattened area (2,628 square feet). He also has another flattened area where he intends to stack and dry the wood. Cutoffs from the wood will be used for firewood after drying and sawdust will be composted. Daggett plans to sell lumber and slab wood.
Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins said because the portable sawmill will be on a trailer, there will be no construction involved. There was no comment from township supervisors or the public.
Duane Bakke did point out regulations of sawmills in Section 726 of the Fillmore County ordinance. The ordinance requires a provision for off road loading and unloading in all weather conditions. The loading and unloading of logs or any other by product is prohibited in any part of a road right of way. Piling and stacking of logs, slab wood, or sawed wood shall be back of the right of way line and/or property line.
The commission unanimously approved the CUP which will be considered by the county board at their November 2 meeting.
Board of Adjustment
Peter and Tisha Doherty, Section 34 Sumner Township, requested an 8-foot variance from the road (141st Ave.) to build a shed for a shop (30 foot by 64 foot). Doherty explained this is the only place to build the shop. The shop is to be built about 10 feet west of an existing shed. When the first shed was built, about 100 loads of fill were required to level the area. He added this location would allow them to access the shop from an existing driveway.
There were no comments from township supervisors or the public.
Due to the hardship resulting from the sloping terrain the board unanimously approved the 8-foot variance.