Company Wins Right To Mine Gravel New Commissioners Dump A Deal To Restrict Pit’s Operations

After more than three years of battles, Interstate Concrete on Wednesday won the right to mine gravel on 230 acres of the Rathdrum Prairie.

The decision by Kootenai County commissioners infuriated residents who complained that dust and noise from existing pits near U.S. Highway 95 and Boekel Road already make them miserable.

“It’s disgusting,” neighbor Kathy Gill said of the decision. “But we predicted it.”

The move relieved company officials who sought a guaranteed source of sand and rock for the next 75 years.

“I’m glad it’s over,” said Interstate President Bruce Cyr. “It’s been hard on Interstate and its employees and hard on the citizens.”

Residents like Gill, who live on the rimrock over-looking the highway, argued that officials jettisoned a hard-fought agreement to limit Interstate’s operating hours and put tough requirements on air quality monitoring. Previous elected officials met for months with Interstate’s attorney to try and get the concessions.

Interstate Attorney Dana Wetzel in January urged new commissioners to

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