Residents fighting against proposed sand mine

Unisands, LLC held a meeting on June 26 to address Marshall County residents’ concerns over the possible sand mine coming to the area. The meeting was held in the Wildcat Den at Madill High School and had well over 100 people in attendance.

Each resident who wished to speak was granted three minutes, and many used those three minutes to state their opposition against the mine. Many residents gave their time over to Jeff Landgraf, owner of Landgraf Pecans - a pecan grove near the proposed site.

Landgraf, along with attorney Krystina Phillips, gave their reasons why they should not move forward with the sand mine. Landgraf said the area and the history of it holds a sentimental value to him and his family. Phillips noted that the mine would be subject to property disputes.

Elizabeth Nichols, Unisand’s attorney, was on hand after the meeting to answer any questions the residents might have. She told KXII that the mining company “would be a good neighbor.”

“All of the information is contained in our application for permit,” Nichols said in the interview. “We will apply for the additional environmental permits when they’re necessary.”

Even though many residents booed and balked at the thought of working with Unisands, Nichols said there is definitely a way to proceed without butting heads with residents.

“There’s always a way to work together,” Nichols said.

Dora Spann lives in Marshall County, but said her family knows all too well what goes along with living near a sand mine. Her family lives near one in Fannin County.

“I definitely don’t want the sand mines because it’s not in our benefit,” Spann said in an interview. “I have seen the effects of the sand mines coming to the land.”

She said some of the issues that her family has faced since the sand mine is that the streets are destroyed from the trucks, their water has been depleted and her family now has lung issues.

When news of the sand mine first circulated, many residents voiced their concerns while others tried to ease them.

Dan Little, the owner of the proposed site, said he wouldn’t even be considering leasing the property to Unisands if he thought there would be any adverse consequences. 

“I would not be doing this if I was not absolutely convinced that there were no health concerns,” he said in an interview with KTEN. “We’re dealing with sand and rock, we’re not dealing with lead and zinc.”

Many residents like Dustin Combs worry about the sand mine depleting the water source. He said that the lake begins in the middle of the proposed area for the sand mine. 

Little said that he is keeping an eagle eye on the situation to make sure the company is following his strict guidelines.

Once the meeting was concluded, The Department of Mines said they will be taking everyth