Posted: 7/18/06
Manure pit passes 4-1
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Houston County commissioners voted 4-2 to grant conditional use permit (CUP) for manure storage pit for Scott Sanness on July 11.
It followed approval by the county planning commission on June 22.
The pit will hold approximately 420,000 gallons of liquid, or 14 months of storage, Sanness said. A CUP is required for manure storage of over 20,000 gallons.
The motion has a new condition that Sanness not be allowed to apply for another CUP for two years from the time his present application in implemented.
The pit will also have biofilters, a condition that the planning commission added.
This was the third time in the past year that Sanness has applied to the county for a hog-related CUP. last weekís debate centered on the same themes that were voiced at other hearings: potential for air and water pollution, and the location of the facility in section eight of Wilmington Township.
Tom Bjerke, who voted against the application, raised those points several times. He also said it would be a foot in the door to future expansion.
Commissioner Dave Corcoran agreed with Bjerkeís comments that it was a bad site. But he noted several times that a manure pit would be better than no pit. He was referring to the fact that Sanness has an existing zoning permit to build a hog confinement barn for up to 299 animal units, or 420 hogs, and that he could proceed with that operation without using a manure pit.
ìItís almost like having a gun to your head,î Corcoran said of the boardís dilemma.
Corcoran added the two year moratorium to the motion. Commissioner Larry Graf said that would give Sanness a chance to show it can be a good system.
Bjerke predicted that the county would see an application from Sanness for an expanded hog operation in two years.
The county board denied an application for Sanness to expand an animal feedlot up to 480 animal units and construct a manure storage basin on June 20.
In 2005 Sanness applied for a permit to operate an animal feedlot with more than 300 animal units, and to construct a manure storage basin. It was for up to 990 animals units, or 2,475 hogs. The planning commission and county board denied the application.
Other permits approved
The board also approved by 3-1 vote a motion to allow Bruce Mierau to rezone from a parcel from agricultural protection district to residential in section one of Money Creek Township, a mile south of the Winona County line.
Zoning administrator Bob Scanlan said there are two houses on lots nearby already, and there is room for one more. The land is currently owned by Jim Todd, and Miereau wonít buy it unless it is rezoned, Scanlan said.
Graf voted against it. He said he had a problem with one lot subdivisions, and that access onto State Highway 76 was a concern. The county should look at the whole area before it goes much further, Graf added.
The board also approved the following 15 zoning permits:
ï Jonathan Kulas ñ Houston Township, build hay shed (20' x 40');
ï William and Judith Albert ñ Union Township, build house (44' x 50') deck (20' x 10');
ï Thaddeus and Kylee Furlong ñ Mound Prairie Township, build house/garage (38' x 84');
ï Thor and Tina Kolle ñ Winnebago Township, build 2 additions on house (22' x 20') and (50' x 10') and two-story attached garage with living space above (42' x 28');
ï Thor Kolle ñ Sheldon Township, build two-story addition (16' x 30') attached garage (28' x 28');
ï Gary Wilhelmson ñ Wilmington Township, add deck to side of home (70' x 8') porch to front (28' x 6') (After-the-fact);
ï Dennis Doering ñ Brownsville Township, build 3 decks (12' x 12') (12' x 32') (34' x 4');
ï Jeff and Kelly Mauss ñ Mayville Township, build garage (28' x 30');
ï Timothy DeWall ñ Caledonia Township, build garage (30' x 24');
ï Dale Neumann ñ Jefferson Township, build lean to (16' x 32');
ï Bill and Carol Abrahamzon ñ Crooked Creek Township, build pole shed (48' x 48');
ï Craig Kellstrom ñ Houston Township, build house (40' x 28') garage (20'x 24') deck (24' x 12') porch (6' x 40') garage (40' x 28');
ï Jeff and Zane Middendorf ñ Winnebago Township, build house (28' x 38') deck (20'x 20');
ï Tony and Jennifer Winjum ñ Mayville Township, build house and attached garage (40'x 82');
ï Tony Becker ñ Brownsville Township, build pole shed (30'x 60'), wood burner shed (26' x 18'), chicken coop (14' x 14').
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