It could be a month or longer before the Winona County Board of Commissioners makes a final decision on a request for a permit to operate the county's first frac sand mine.
                 
County Planning and Environmental Services Director Jason Gilman told the board that a citizen's petition goes before the state Environmental Quality Board on September 19th, requesting that the county be the responsible governmental unit to
oversee the mine.

Gilman says that causes a delay in the county's action on the permit, within a required 60-day time limit, until after the meeting

After the meeting the county board will have 15 days to decide if an E-A-W will be required for the Nisbit proposal. That could delay a final decision of the permit even further.

County Administrator Duane Hebert said the board should not make any hasty decisions on sand mine permit requests.

Commissioner Marcia Ward said there are a number of questions that still need to be answered before a final decision is made on th