An existing sand mine in Houston County south of Rushford got the go ahead to mine frac sand after the Houston County Board of Commissioners was told the mine does not violate the county's moratorium.
                     
The Tri-County Record is reporting the board's hired attorney advised members that they had to rescind their earlier stop work order for the Erickson property located near the Houston-Fillmore County line.

The action came after the mine operator, Minnesota Sand, threatened a lawsuit.

The mine had been supplying sand for county road projects since it opened in 1992 and had been granted a new permit each five years after that.

During a closed session last week commissioners said their one-year moratorium on frac sand mining apply to existing sand mines.

In allowing the mine to continue operations, board members also approved conditions banning the company from washing or screening the frac sand at the site.

Trucks will haul the material through Rushford to Winona.....