Mueller Pallets wins months-long fight on tree grinding site

But commissioners include more conditions amid neighborhood resistance

Margie Mueller at her previous tree grinding site in Tea. (Joe Sneve/The Dakota Scout)

Perseverance paid off for Mueller Pallets Tuesday after the Minnehaha County Commission approved a conditional use permit for the company to establish a wood grinding site.

But perseverance also paid off for residents who live near the site. While they didn’t outright kill the proposal liked they hoped, their pressure led the commission to adopt a series of conditions for the permit, which is slated to be located on about 13 acres of land west of the Sioux Falls Regional Landfill.

“We’re happy, but I’m very sad the neighbors have come out against us like this,” Mueller Pallets owner Margie Mueller said following the meeting.

After deadlocking last week on a 2-2 vote, state law required the commission to vote again at its next meeting, which was Tuesday’s. Still down a member, the commission faced another potential tie vote, which would have meant defeat.

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