The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County by Jerry Apps Page A

the council. “We will bring jobs to Link Lake, no matter what it takes.” She received a rousing round of applause from the group with these words, which at least suggested some hope for the dire situation in which the village was mired. She was unanimously voted chair of the council that same night.
    But Marilyn was disappointed that the Economic Development Council had had little success bringing jobs to Link Lake. Indeed, she knew it would not be the council’s successes or future plans that most people would remember and talk about, but its failures—in particular the defeat of the council’s efforts to bring a fast food business to Link Lake. Up until that fiasco, Marilyn and the other council members had mostly ignored the Link Lake Historical Society or saw it as a social outlet for the older people in the community, who had little else to do than reminisce about earlier days. To a hard-charging businessperson, which was how some people described Marilyn Jones, the Link Lake Historical Society was irrelevant to the community. Marilyn had learned differently in 2009.
    Now Marilyn was ready to call a special meeting of the Economic Development Council, one open to the public. She was about to make an announcement to the world, as she would tell everyone something that would have far-reaching positive effects on the community.

11
Economic Development Council
    M arilyn walked into the community room at the Link Lake Library with her head high and confidence in her step. “I have good news for you,” she said as she called the regular monthly meeting of the Link Lake Economic Development Council to order. “It’s been a long struggle to bring jobs to Link Lake and put our community on a stronger economic footing,” Marilyn continued. She paused for a moment. She wanted the full impact of her words to be heard by the small collection of businesspeople, large-scale farmers, and other interested people in the community who were in attendance. For the last several years, the only words the council members had heard over and over were “We’re open for business”—to the point that some businesspeople simply didn’t attend anymore.
    â€œMayor Jessup and I have had extended conversations with the Alstage Sand Mining Company of La Crosse,” Marilyn said, speaking slowly and loudly enough so all could hear.
    â€œYesterday I heard from Emerson Evans, vice president of the company. Alstage engineers found a sizable seam of high-quality sand right here in Link Lake that will prove profitable to us, bring jobs to our community, bring much-needed money to the village’s coffers, and, I must say, put Link Lake on the map.”
    Emily Higgins quickly raised her hand.
    â€œWhy haven’t we heard about this mining company before? Where are they planning to locate their mine? When? And is a mine what Link Lake needs? I’ve heard sand mining can be rather hard on the environment and there are potential health hazards as well,” she blurted out in rapid-fire fashion.
    â€œWell, Emily,” Marilyn began, trying to avoid showing her disgust with the questions, “the reason you or no one else has heard about this is because the mayor and I just learned yesterday that the mine is a real possibility for our community. We didn’t want to talk about it until we knew for sure that they were interested. Now we know they are.”
    â€œAnd what about where and when?”
    â€œThose answers will have to wait a bit—until we negotiate a bit more with the Alstage people.”
    â€œWhen will we know?” asked Emily, her face a little redder than it was before.”
    â€œSoon, Emily. Soon. Be a little patient, okay?”
    Emily sat down, but from the look on her face, she was clearly not happy with what she was hearing, or how Marilyn Jones had responded to her inquiries. Most members of the development council knew the long, difficult