Winona County Board members took part in a frac sand mining tour on July 20th that was arranged by the City of St. Charles.

Board Chair Mena Kaehler says the tour, which included a mining operation in New Auburn, Wisconsin, and a sand washing plant in Chippewa Falls, showed they are dealing with the same road use concerns as Winona County.

 Kaehler says the road usage tax for the Wisconsin sites they visited concerned agriculture businesses until they realized the tax would not effect them.

The tour followed a public informational meeting on the Farm2Rail proposal that involves 300 acres of land just east of St. Charles. The company wants to  build rail loops on the property for shipping and receiving commodities including frac sand.

Nearby residents have been concerned about traffic and environmental issues the development could pose. Concerns have also been raised by the Amish community which populates that area.