Sand Operation Timeline
October 25, 2024
A trusted source shared that Kaw Valley Companies submitted an application to Leavenworth County Planning and Zoning requesting a Special Use Permit (SUP) to dredge sand in Southern Leavenworth County. A Public Records Request was sent to obtain a copy of the application and supporting documents.
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Link: LVCO Special Use Permit Application Procedure
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October 30, 2024
The response from David Van Parys, Senior County Counselor, about the Public Records Request.
“The request for the recently submitted application of Kaw Valley is considered to be, at this time, a preliminary document and exempt from mandatory disclosure under K.S.A. 45-221(a)(20).”
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November 5, 2024
Planning & Zoning sent a list of requirements for an application to Kaw Valley. Kaw Valley's response is not public record as the application is a draft.
Link: e-mail to Kaw Valley
March 3, 2025
Planning & Zoning acknowledges an application from Kaw Valley that is ready for review. Kaw Valley's response is not public record as the application is a draft.
Link: e-mail to Kaw Valley
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March 7, 2025
A trusted source shared that Kaw Valley Companies submitted a completed application to Leavenworth County Planning and Zoning requesting a Special Use Permit (SUP) to dredge sand in Southern Leavenworth County. A Public Records Request was sent to obtain a copy of the application and supporting documents.
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March 12, 2025
The response from Misty S. Brown, County Counselor, about the Public Records Request said there was nothing to share as K.S.A. 45-221(a)(20) "exempts preliminary draft documents from disclosure."
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March 13, 2025
Documents were obtained from the Kansas Department of Agriculture and through public records requests pertaining to permits granted to Kaw Valley Companies.
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Link: State of Kansas permits
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October 16, 2025
A trusted source shared that Kaw Valley Companies submitted a completed application to Leavenworth County Planning and Zoning requesting a Special Use Permit (SUP) to dredge sand in Southern Leavenworth County. A Public Records Request was sent to obtain a copy of the application and supporting documents.
October 21, 2025
Kaw Valley's application and supporting documents were supplied by Leavenworth County for public review.
Link: Kaw Valley SUP application
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November 7, 2025
The agenda for the November 12, 2025 Planning Commission meeting is posted online. It contains the entire Kaw Valley SUP application along with Planning & Zoning's staff report that was clipped from the agenda for ease of viewing. All letters pertaining to the SUP that were given to the Planning Commissioners can be found below through the link in the November 12, 2025 update. ​
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Link: Planning & Zoning staff report
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November 12, 2025
After a presentation by Kaw Valley and a public hearing where LVCO citizens voiced their concerns and thoughts, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny Kaw Valley's SUP. The Kaw Valley issue starts at timestamp 24:18 in the video linked below. Also, find all letters pertaining to the SUP that were given to the Planning Commissioners. Shorter letters have been clipped and combined for ease of viewing.
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Video: November 12th PC Meeting and Public Hearing
Link: Letters received by the Planning Commission
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November 25, 2025
At the BOCC meeting, Misty Brown, LVCO Counselor, announced that she had received an e-mail from Kaw Valley's legal counsel asking to postpone the BOCC hearing of their SUP until sometime in February. The Kaw Valley issue starts at timestamp 3:13 in the video linked below.
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Video: November 25th BOCC Meeting
March 20, 2026
The agenda for the March 25, 2026 BOCC meeting is posted online. It contains the entire Kaw Valley SUP application, staff report, and letters as presented to the Planning Commission on November 12, 2025.
The 20 new pages of the extensive BOCC packet have been pulled out to help readers. ​
Pages 1 - 3 are the "Request for Board Action."
Pages 4 - 9 are letters received by Planning after the November 12th meeting.
Pages 10 - 13 hold the language to be used if the SUP is approved.
Pages 14 - 20 are the minutes from the November 12th Planning Commission meeting.
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Link: New pages in the BOCC packet
Link: Kaw Valley SUP application
Link: Planning & Zoning staff report
Link: Letters received by the Planning Commission
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March 25, 2026
After a statement and motion by Commissioner Mike Smith, the BOCC voted 4 to 1 to remand Kaw Valley's SUP application back to the Planning Commission for further review. This is to include analysis by Planning and Zoning of all of the revisions Kaw Valley suggested to the County after the November 12, 2025 meeting. Once Planning and Zoning completes their work, notices will be sent about a new public hearing and the documents will become available to the public. The hearing could be as early as May 13, 2026.
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Video: March 25th BOCC Meeting
Link: Minutes of the March 25th BOCC Meeting
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April 22, 2026
Kaw Valley Companies' application to Leavenworth County Planning and Zoning requesting a Special Use Permit (SUP) to excavate and stockpile sand in Southern Leavenworth County is posted here for public review. According to Kaw Valley and confirmed by the County, the original application has not been changed, but Kaw Valley will entertain requests about altering the route and retail sales.
Link: Kaw Valley SUP application
Link: E-mail from Kaw Valley about SUP application
Link: Power Point slides Kaw Valley had hoped to show at March 25, 2026 BOCC meeting
A Planning Commission Public Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13th at 5:30 pm in the second floor meeting room of the LVCO Courthouse.
Comments, questions, and/or concerns can be sent to John Jacobson at jjacobson@leavenworthcounty.gov prior to the public hearing. Mr. Jacobson is the Director of LVCO Planning & Zoning and serves as the Secretary of the LVCO Planning Commission.
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May 8, 2026
The packet for the Planning Commission meeting is available. The order of the documents is different, but the overall content of the application remains the same. Documents new to the proceedings have been pulled out to make them easier to find.
Link: Kaw Valley SUP application
Link: Staff report and comments
Link: Supplemental document concerning new route and retail sales tax revenue
Link: Letters included in the packet
May 13, 2026
After a presentation by Kaw Valley and a public hearing where a number of folks spoke in favor of the proposal and many LVCO citizens voiced their opposition, the Planning Commission voted 5 to 3 to deny Kaw Valley's SUP. The Kaw Valley issue starts at approximately 20:39 in the video linked below.
Video: May 13th PC Meeting and Public Hearing
Link: Kaw Valley's presentation slides ​​​
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