Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Contaminated Soil Farm

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether Fall River County properly approved a site near Edgemont to clean oil-contaminated soil.

The County Commission approved the soil farm in March 2014 but later sought to rescind its decision because residents were not given proper notice. In June of that year, the board gave the public a chance to comment before rescinding its March resolution and passing a new yet identical resolution approving the soil farm.

Unhappy residents collected petition signatures to refer the resolution to the November ballot, but the votes were never counted.

High Plains Resources LLC's attorney argued the county never had the right to rescind the initial ordinance.

Fall River's state's attorney argued that open record and meeting law violations should void the original passage.

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