MUTINY ON THE COUNTY

Was it a minor revolution or was it just Mutiny On The County? Either way it seems that grassroots democracy still lives to some degree in Oneida County. This conclusion can be made after reviewing what took place in the northern Wisconsin county of Oneida, and how the Townships overrode a Mining Ordinance that had been passed by their County Board.

By using seldom exercised muscle, the Townships rejected a newly developed mining ordinance within the 40 day period as allowed for by Wisconsin State Statutes. According to the obscure law, if a majority of a counties' townships pass resolutions rejecting an ordinance that a County Board has approved - and do this within 40 days of its passage - then the ordinance is not valid and must go back to the County for a rewrite.

A new ordinance on mining had passed the Oneida County Board on June 18th after a great deal of debate and discussion. The new ordinance was intended to address some of the inadequacies in the County's existing mining laws. Local citizens and environmentalists, who had been involved in the process, saw the upgrade as a step in the right direction, but they felt it still had too many loopholes that the County would later regret. A couple County Board members apparently felt this way, too.

In the following weeks, as these County Board members visited the Towns to educate and explain what the new ordinance meant, a revolt developed. Many of the Townships had already had their regular monthly meeting, yet they chose to hold special meetings to make sure a resolution rejecting the new ordinance could be passed within the 40 days. Fourteen of the Oneida County's 20 Townships rejected the new mining ordinance, killing the measure.

"Oneida County is involved with the two largest metallic, sulfide ore discoveries in Wisconsin."

Some of the Towns even passed related resolutions asking for a moratorium on mining, and the permit process, until a comprehensive and much strengthened County ordinance is in place.

Oneida County is involved with the two largest metallic, sulfide ore discoveries in Wisconsin. The Lynne ore body is on publicly owned County land. Noranda Minerals of Canada was partway through a permit to mine when they withdrew their application in 1994. They have since renewed their lease and have been actively involved in the local mining ordinance process. Noranda's interests have been represented by Waltrud Arts (the former Public Intervenor), an employee of the law firm Quarles and Brady. Noranda wants to build an open pit Zinc and Copper mine in a wetland and lake area very near the scenic Willow Flowage.

The Crandon ore body is entirely within neighboring Forest County to the East. Crandon Mining Company (CMC), owned by Exxon Minerals and Canada's Rio-Algom, is seeking a mining permit for the controversial Crandon Mine. Besides the apparent socio-economic impacts to Oneida County, CMC wants to build a 38 mile long sewer line to transport and dump liquid mine wastes into the Wisconsin River. This route will pass mostly through Oneida County along road rights-of-ways. According to company information, it's $14 million cheaper to build this sewer and dump it into the Wisconsin, than to treat the water for discharge into the Wolf River.

Clearly Oneida County has a huge stake in metallic sulfide mining in Wisconsin. They seem to be waking up to the realities of what is being proposed for their future, not to mention their lands and waters. Those County Board members who assited the Towns in their mutiny deserve credit. They used the legitimate legal system to do what is best for Oneida County.

Democracy is like a muscle, if we don't use it we will lose it. This latest flexing gives us hope that we can regain our strength in these matters and take back some of the control we have lost.

- Jim Wise. Jim Wise lives near Tomahawk and is a member of ECCOLA, a grassroots environmental group active in northeastern Wisconsin. To receive ECCOLA's lively newsletter, contact ECCOLA at PO Box 537, Minocqua, WI 54548