With sand mine companies looking to start digging; Eau Claire County wants to hear from you before the shovels hit the dirt.

The county held a public listening session Monday night in Fall Creek. The county says it wants to hear from the public to find out what people, who live near the mines, really think. The biggest concerns people brought up were heath risks, types of jobs and what the mines will do to area land.

Close to 100 people filled up the Fall Creek Village Hall to talk sand mines.

"Please, please continue the moratorium. Please take a good look at putting good conversation practices in place so we have this for our future, for our children and their children," says Carol Peuse.

"I want to see it here in Eau Claire County because we need the work here and we need the jobs here," says one man who was in support of the mines.

The meeting was intended to be a listening session for Eau Claire County. County board members and county employees wanted to take questions to hear citizens concerns.

"I think it's a huge impact here. It’s long lasting and obviously none of us want to interfere with an industry coming in here but certainly we want to be sure we're representing the people who will be impacted by that industry," says Eau Claire County Board Member, Colleen Bates.

"We really like seeing people here. We didn't know what to expect if we get 100 people, 50 people is great, 25 is great. What ever the number we get we're interested in what they have to say," says Eau Claire County Director of Planning and Development, Mel Erickson.

Several people expressed their worries to the group while a few showed their support for the mines. However the majority of those who spoke said they want the county take the time to study all the potential risks.

"I'm here to remind us that we owe it to our children and future generations. We owe it to them to take time to study and not just jump because of good money. We owe it to them to find out what all the consequences are to opening up our county to the extraction of this sand," says Karen Wise.

The county says it plans to have more meetings. It says right now one is planned for February but the meeting date, time and location isn't set.