From McLean County, Illinois

No gravel pit across the street from our elementary school.

Or, so it would seem right now.  I hear this saga may not yet be over, even though it appears to be.  More on this later as it, or if it indeed, develops.  You know how rumors are.

As we wrote about in the past, McLean County is awash in gravel; the controversy arises when gravel pit developers want to mine a pit close to a school or high-density areas; the most recent proposal was on the Jim Finnigan farm, which is right across the street from the Fox Creek Elementary School, and the Fox Creek Subdivision.

Today's vote by the McLean County Board, after a close vote of 9-8; two members absent; John Butler and Laurie Wollrab; the Board voted to require 1/2 mile separation between a gravel pit operation and a residentially zoned neighborhood or school.

Key to this 1/2 mile separation is that it's from property line, to property line.

You might wonder why they can't make an exception; to just exclude gravel pits near schools or residential areas; and lessen the distance for other locations in the county; however, a Federal case rules otherwise; it's pretty much all or nothing when it comes to distance.  Our government at work.

Link here and here for more articles on the county board vote today.