GAYLORD — Sibley County Planning & Zoning Commissioners held a public hearing for a pair of commercial feedlot requests in Bismarck Township, but tabled action on the requests to the September 9 meeting Monday night.

Sibley County Zoning Administrator Ryan Krzos said staff recommended tabling action on the requests after the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board received a citizens petition for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for Bryan and Nathan Sommer’s proposed hog nursery feedlots.

EAWs are a screening tool to determine whether a full environmental impact statement is needed. The worksheet is a six-page questionnaire about the project’s environmental setting, the potential for environmental harm and plans to reduce the harm.

Bryan and Brent Sommer each requested conditional use permits (CUP) to construct 5,980 head (600 Animal Unit) nursery hog barns on State Highway 19, Winthrop; and at 571st Avenue and 276th Street.

When a citizen petition is complete, there is a prohibition on final government decisions until the decision on the need for an EAW is determined. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has 15 days, with an optional 15 day extension, to determine the need for an EAW.

Proposed facilities including an 82 feet by 247 feet hog barn with in-barn manure pit were discussed at the July meeting. Since a number of commissioners were not able to attend a public viewing of the property, the request and public hearing was tabled to the August meeting.

Bryan Sommer’s application read that he has been in contact with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for proper permits. The proposed barns would be located a quarter-mile apart, two miles west of Winthrop, near State Highway 19.

“The barns are small. They don’t emit a lot of odor,” Nathan Sommer said.

Michale Rein said his residence is 1,000 feet from one of the proposed feedlots. He said a real estate appraisers told him the proposed feedlots would lower his property values, and a real estate agent said it would make it harder to sell his farm site.

“I don’t feel a permit should be given,” Rein said.

“I’m concerned about groundwater and air quality, especially for the two landowners so close to the property,” said Mary Mueller.

Rosemary Arhart of rural Winthrop said she lives near the proposed project. A letter from Dr. James E. Allen, M.D. of the Hutchinson Health Clinic read that she is a long-term patient of his and she has multiple medical problems including diabetes, vascular disease and arthritis.

“If the AFO (Animal Feeding Operation) has to go next to her new home, she should be given a different home to live in or some other solution should be found,” read Allen’s letter.

“Board members have to take a look at this for what it is,” Bryan Sommer said. “We’re hearing all this hype that we’re going to destroy things. What about Gaylord and Waldbaum’s? You smell it at times. That’s part of agriculture. We’ll be out in the barns. Keep this in perspective. We’ll meet every requirement.”

“We have enough land to spread the manure,” Nathan Sommer said.

Commissioners also:

• Approved a conditional use permit application by Kipp Trebesch Jr. to establish an extra farm dwelling within the A-1 General Agricultural District at 36287 180th Street, Green Isle, motion by Bruce Froehlich, seconded by Joy Cohrs. Brad Pershau cast a dissenting vote.

• Denied a variance application by Jeff Ziegler for a front yard setback reduction for a grain bin within the A-1 Zone by a 2-1 vote. Darrel Mosel cast a dissenting vote.

• Approved a variance application by Joshua Elbert for a front yard setback reduction for a building addition in the A-1 Zone, motion by Mosel, seconded by Marvin Rose.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.