Proposed hog farm draws ire
Ag Dept. rep talks to West Newton Township Board, citizensBy FRITZ BUSCH Journal Staff Writer
POSTED: June 11, 2008
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Rob Fritz — who described himself as a liaison between state and local government units — tried to convince the township board to work with Nicollet County commissioners regarding a recent feed lot expansion request site about 1 1/2 miles west of this village.
At the May 27 Nicollet County commissioners meeting, about 20 citizens attended a conditional use permit hearing for a feed lot expansion request by Greg Wendinger of New Ulm.
Wendinger seeks a 720-animal unit, wean-to-finish feed lot with a 102-by-192 barn and 82-foot deep concrete manure pit underneath it.
Citizens discussed health concerns, the impact of another hog facility, the economy of small farms and related issues at the meeting.
By a 3-2 vote, commissioners turned down a request to delay the permit decision for up to 120 days from the date of complete application — no later than Aug. 23 — to allow West Newton Township more time to discuss feed lot issues.
By a 4-1 vote, commissioners approved a motion to table the permit request to Tuesday, June 24.
On Tuesday, Fritz tried to convince the West Newton Board and citizens to work with the county on the issue.
“Consider the pros and cons of zoning,” Fritz said. “The township would be on the hook for zoning enforcement unless there’s an agreement with the county. Plus it makes a lot of sense now, with the added cost of government.”
Fritz said Olmsted, Pope and Stearns counties were good examples of townships working with counties on such issues.
He added that feed lot expansion tools include setbacks, methane digesters, bio filters, feed and manure management, windbreaks and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to mention a few.
“Townships working without county agreements can create confusion,” Fritz said.
“You can’t prevent foul odors all the time. Producers are exempt from state pollution standards 21 days a year, so they can agitate their (manure) pits, usually in the spring and fall,” added Fritz.
He said odor restrictions that were too tight could restrict potential feed lot methane and biogas generation.
His view didn’t set well with several citizens.
“We think Nicollet County is way too lenient with feed lots. We’d like longer setbacks so bigger feed lots don’t pop up all over the countryside,” said Alan Forst.
Fritz said county feed lot regulations across the state are “all over the board” and additional township regulations make the issue even more complex.
“We’re here because of things like what happened near Thief River Falls today,” said a woman.
She was referring to Minnesota health officials advising several families to evacuate their homes after fumes from a 1,500-cow dairy feed lot near Thief River Falls reached unhealthy levels.
People living near Excel Dairy complained of headaches, nausea and weakness from high hydrogen sulfide levels.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) measured and confirmed hydrogen sulfide levels much higher than it measured at other feed lots and sources including beet sugar plants and paper mills.
West Newton Township Board Chairman Bryan Forst said St. Cloud attorney Tony Gilchrest will attend the next board meeting set for 7 p.m., Thursday, June 19, at St. George Parish Center.
“I’ve talked to him about this. He’s worked with other townships to adopt interim ordinances to halt feed lot expansion for 6-12 months, while studies were done,” Forst said.
Fritz cautioned West Newton residents that attorney fees — before court — could cost as much as $10,000.
For more information, visit webinfo@mda.state.mn.us
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).
