The Cass County Planning Commission tabled a decision on a conditional use permit for a proposed business after Pine River Township area residents voiced concerns about the safety of methanol being stored and mixed near several waterways in a residential area.

The applicant chose to withdraw his CUP application as of Tuesday, Dec. 14. No reason has been provided yet.

Craig Mullikin requested the conditional use permit to allow him to operate a business manufacturing windshield washer fluid, called Premium Wash 25, using approximately 37% methanol, dish soap and dyes in Pine River Township near the neighborhood of Bungo Creek. The CUP is required based on the county's district land use regulations.

The draft CUP presented at the Monday, Dec. 13, public hearing at the county's Backus Land Services Building identifies the land as non-riparian property within the shoreland zone of Bungo Creek. It says the business would be a one-man home business operating out of an existing building with most of the business operating off site.

Cass County Environmental Services Department met Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 to discuss various things, including a conditional use permit for a company manufacturing windshield washer fluid. Neighbors showed up to oppose the business for its use of Methanol. Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

The owner plans to mix fluid a few hours a week. The application states there would be no wetland habitat disturbed, no threat to public health or reason to expect it would affect adjoining properties.

The CUP included conditions, among them:

The commission discussed the possibility that if the business grew to the point of needing more water for mixing the windshield washing liquid, the owner would likely need to seek an updated CUP.

" All the EPA guidelines, all the safety guidelines the government requires us to do for safety we follow to the letter." — Craig Mullikin.

" All the EPA guidelines, all the safety guidelines the government requires us to do for safety we follow to the letter."

Neighborhood residents voiced their objections to the conditional use permit, citing possible chemical hazards, water levels, spill risks, suitability and impacts on property value.

Janine Hulke was concerned about the amount of water that would be drawn from wells on the property.

Mullikin said the business would draw about 1,500-2,000 gallons a week. One commission member said that is a fraction of that drawn by farm field irrigation systems. Mullikin said the company he is working for has never run a well dry, or even come close.

"My other concern is that there are rivers all the way around that property," Hulke said. "The Bungo Creek, the Pine River and Dabill Creek are all within close proximity to that. What if there was a way that it got into the rivers? It's going to go all the way through the Pine River. Bungo Creek would affect our horse stable, everybody's animals that are provided water from the creek."

Commission Chair Tim Moore asked how far the facility is from the nearest water supply. The CUP findings declared it within a quarter mile of Bungo Creek. Staff narrowed that down to one-eighth of a mile.

One neighbor disagreed with that distance and said he didn't believe the measurement was properly taken, as he didn't see footprints in the snow where he thought they should be.

Neighbor Brad Nyhammer was concerned about how the water was going to be used, and whether there would be waste, contrary to the CUP. Mullikin said because his operation would just be drawing the water to mix it directly with the other ingredients, there would be no waste water. All the water he'd pump would go into washer fluid to be sold.

" The industrial park in town is where this needs to be." — Robert Pavik.

" The industrial park in town is where this needs to be."

"When I looked up methanol, that's a poison alcohol," Nyhammer said. "If it gets into our water table, everyone there has a mound system for sewer, which means the water table is 16 inches in the ground at the most. Any time it rains I've got standing water in my backyard. What's guaranteeing this methanol will never get there?"

Nyhammer was also worried that the double tank system used to prevent leaks would eventually rust and leak. Mullikin said the methanol would not cause the metal to rust and his business would follow all guidelines for storing methanol. Nyhammer didn't understand why the property was located in a shoreland district instead of an industrial district such as in Pine River.

Mullikin said the property was selected because it met various requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency and other guidelines.

Neighbor Theresa Smith said she looked up methanol and listed some of the hazards identified in the safety data sheet, specifically pertaining to inhalation. The safety data sheet identifies health effects including unconsciousness, death, nervous system issues, nausea, weakness and more.

"I don't want to breathe methanol," Smith said. "When I step out the door I don't want to inhale it. One of the only problems my special needs daughter doesn't have is breathing issues. Headaches, nausea, blindness - none of us want to risk this."

Mullikin said he has worked with methanol for five years and has not noticed any strong odors, nor has he gotten sick from proximity to it. He believes the SDS symptoms Smith mentioned related to people who are exposed to it in close proximity. The commission made a note to find out more about the potential hazards to surrounding areas.

One resident who did not identify himself opposed the idea of locating a commercial business in an area surrounded by residential properties.

Lorraine Race was concerned the proximity of the business would affect taxes and property valuation.

"Does anyone we want to sell to want to live next to that?" Race said.

"The industrial park in town is where this needs to be," neighbor Robert Pavik said.

One neighbor suggested that if the EPA was informed, that agency might shut down the whole project.

Mullikin said he was confident that wouldn't be the case because his plan meets all EPA requirements as required by the conditional use permit.

"All the EPA guidelines, all the safety guidelines the government requires us to do for safety we follow to the letter," Mullikin said.

Commission member Jeff Holten asked if the commission should consider tabling action to gather more information and give the Pine River Township board the opportunity to review the topic and share feedback after its Dec. 14 meeting.

The county commission tabled the decision for 30 days to gather more information. Moore was the only dissenting vote. The commission laid out various details that need to be researched before a decision is made, including:

The commission was planning to revisit the discussion Monday, Jan. 10.

Travis Grimler is a staff writer for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com.