ANN ARBOR, MI — Six Ann Arbor Township residents who live near a gravel mining operation have filed a lawsuit asking a judge to halt mining activities, at least until proper state permits are in place.
The residents filed the suit against Mid Michigan Materials, which operates the Vella Pit sand and gravel mining operation on Earhart Road in the township, and property owner WSG Properties, LLC. The suit was filed Monday Dec. 15 in Washtenaw County.
The residents’ suit comes as the gravel mine and Ann Arbor Township officials work to reach a settlement of a different suit the township brought against the operation in 2023 after drinking water wells dried up and tons of sediment was released into wetlands. In that case, the township alleges pumping groundwater out adversely impacted residents’ drinking water wells and wetlands and was in violation of a conditional use permit from the township…