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Mr. Cornacchia noted that sand and gravel extraction permitting in Lane Coun- . ty is done by County staff and asked if Mr. Davis believed that the permit- ting process did not provide adequate protection for groundwater quality. Mr. Davis said he had not reviewed the permitting regulations. He said that he was unaware of any sand and gravel sites adjacent to public water systems. Mr. Cornacchia expressed interest in knowing more about the permitting re- quirements. Mr. Miller left the meeting at 8:48 p.m. Ken Schindledecker, 6505 McKenzie Highway, Springfield, distributed a pre- pared statement to the elected officials. He discussed three concerns: the development of Potato Hill and its adjacent wetlands, the use of the Rolling Ridge Ranch as a youth development site, and the Weyerhaeuser sludge landfill east of 57th Street. Mr. Schindledecker maintained that Potato Hill contained a valuable forest community that contributed significantly to the quality of life in Spring- field. He said land adjacent to Potato Hill zoned for medium-density resi- dential use could not support that density of use. Mr. Schindledecker said that land north of Potato Hill was an area he termed a "classic wetland." He said plans exist to fill and pave the area, which could be a violation of Federal law as well as destruction of a valuable resource for short-term gain. Mr. Schindledecker said such natural areas in urban developments should be considered an important community asset and . preserved when possible. Mr. Schindledecker described the location of the Rolling Ridge Ranch and said he had worked for the former owner of the ranch. He asked the elected offi- cials to consider acquiring the ranch for use as a working ranch and youth development site as well as environmental learning center. Mr. Schindledecker asked that the sludge fill site east of 57th Street ex- tending north of the Weyerhaeuser Road be investigated for contamination. Mr. Rust asked Mr. Schindledecker if he had evidence of contamination at the sludge site. Mr. Schindledecker said no. Mr. Morrisette observed that the Potato Hill site had been purchased for the purpose of residential development. In relation to the North 66th Street site, Mr. Schindledecker said that the area had been recently logged, and the landowner dumps solvents and oils on the site. He maintained that the area was a wetland and the site of a heron rookery. Mr. Schindledecker said that the channels were fed by underground streams and a small creek. Water flows year-round. larry Thorpe, 644 North A Street, Springfield, identified himself as an at- torney for Mr. and Mrs. Everett Fox. He said that Mr. Fox is not opposed to MINUTES--Joint Elected Officials July 1, 1992 Page 10 .