ST. PETER - At an hour-long public hearing Friday, Nicollet County commissioners ordered a feasibility report to be done regarding moving a County Ditch 76A branch tile line away from its current location in Granby Township.
Commissioners asked Davis Family Dairies, LLC of Le Sueur to post a $40,000 bond for the county to use as credit for a report to be done by Short Elliot Hendrickson (SEH) Inc. of Mankato regarding moving the Branch 2A tile line in Section 15 of Granby Township.
An engineer will assess the impact of a proposed 4,320-head (864 animal unit) dairy facility on the ditch system and a ditch committee will review the information before deciding if the tile line should be moved away from 6 59'x952' total confinement calf barns proposed to be built on the 120-acre site currently used as cropland, according to the application for conditional use.
The project includes two 80'x560' covered, solid manure storage areas, a 100'x100'x14' earthen, wash water storage pond, mortality compost structure, and an office.
Earlier this month, Nicollet County Public Works Director Seth Greenwood told commissioners due process must be followed or future landowners could bring up ditch-related issues due to the change. It was noted that any ditch changes would be paid for by the diary.
After the Friday meeting, Greenwood told The Journal the branch tile line carries storm water and any ground water that may flow into it into County Ditch 76A which flows into nearby Middle Lake.
Greenwood said SEH will look at nearby wetland maps to ensure no issues would be created by moving the tile line.