Site drawing shows possible expanded grain pads at Dusty

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Oct 17, 20190

The McCoy Land Company/PNW grain pile project at Dusty continues in its first phase of construction at the intersection of Highway 26 and 127.

The project was granted a conditional use permit earlier this year for four grain piles, truck scales, utilities and small office space, with a driveway off Highway 127, south of Dusty.

A site drawing by Keltic Engineering of Lewiston includes nine circles marking grain piles, though no plans are in place for any more than the permitted four.

“We planned the first four and said, what if some day we wanted to apply for more, where would they go,” said Keith Becker, operations manager for PNW. “Personally, I would guess that it will never happen. I think the amount of storage (in four) will be adequate. The site drawing just utilized the property to the max.”

A building permit was issued Aug. 8, after a 21-day appeal period eclipsed after a hearing examiner’s decision on a conditional use permit – following a series of public meetings which included opposition to the project for stated reasons such as traffic concerns, environmental damage and more.

Any more than four grain pads would require another round of approvals.

The current building permit is just for an access road, as well as concrete work for a culvert to cross a drainage to reach what will be the pads area.

PNW/McCoy is doing the initial work itself, with an estimated value of $2,500.

The project is on schedule for the most part.

“It depends on how many snowfalls we have in October,” Becker said. “I expect to have two piles in operation for next harvest.”