BLACK HAWK - A spokesman for the Pete Lien & Sons told area residents Monday that the company was not planning to expand limestone-mining operations to the hills west of town within the next five years.

Scott Landguth also said the company would do a better job of communicating in person with residents about its plans and might begin posting mining information and updates on its Web site.

"Frankly, we haven't done a very good job of keeping you informed," Landguth said during a public meeting Monday evening at the Pizza Hut.

Landguth appeared as a guest of the Kiwanis Club to address rumors that the company would soon expand active mining operations to land it owns along Peaceful Pines Road and near the Woodland Hills housing development. The company's recent fencing and tree thinning there heightened worries.

"Every one of us is concerned about this gentleman and his mining," Woodland Hills resident Sharon Wilson said in introducing Landguth.

Residents asked about dust, noise, and potential damage to the environment, roads and the very foundations of their homes, the last because of vibrations from mining. Landguth said that in his 10 years with the company it had not damaged any foundations.

"If it was ever proven that we did, we'd definitely take care of it," he said.

Landguth said he "would be lying" if he tried to give a date that limestone mining might be moving to the areas closer to town. But the land near Peaceful Pines Road isn't on the company's five-year plan, he said. Plans can change somewhat, but almost certainly not enough to put Peaceful Pines into that time period, he said.

"This will still not be touched by the five-year plan," he said.

The limestone mine west of Sturgis Road and south of town is likely to expand only slightly north of Box Elder Creek in the next five years, he said. The company works hard to control dust and reclaim mined ground as it moves into new areas, he said.

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com