Curry County says ‘no' to Rogue River gravel mining

Wescom News Service

GOLD BEACH, Ore. – Freeman Rock officials said the Curry County Planning Commission is wrecking their business after the commission rejected a request to more than double the amount of rock they can mine from the Rogue River and would not give them a five-year approval.

"You make it really hard to be in business," Ted Freeman said following the vote.

"We'll be laying people off," Bill Yocum said after the vote early Friday. Freeman Rock has 35 employees.

The vote came after Com-missioner Margaret McHugh said Freeman should have provided the planning commission with operation plans, development plans and reclamation plans that the company provides to other regulators.

And she said Freeman should coordinate its plans with the South Coast Watershed Council.

The commission then voted to continue the current permit for one year.

Yocum said late Friday morning, the company would appeal the rejection to the Curry County Commission.