Posted: 7/10/07
Proposed hog facility hot topic at July 3 county board meeting
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Following almost an hour of compelling and sometimes heated discussion on July 3, the Houston County Board tabled a conditional use permit (CUP) request made by Scott Sanness of Spring Grove. A decision was to be rendered on the proposed hog facility Tuesday, July 10 after this issue of The Caledonia Argus went to press.
Sanness received approval last year to construct a 51 by 140 foot building to house market hogs. Because of the type of permit he applied for, the maximum number of market hogs he could have in the facility at any one time was 750, which translates to 300 animal units (AU).
Sanness did not construct the 51 by 140 foot facility, but instead now wants to construct a 50 by 400 foot building and raise nursery pigs. Because nursery pigs are so much smaller than market hogs, he could have up to 6,000 piglets (which would be 300 AU) in the facility at any one time.
Sanness explained the nursery pigs would remain in the building for seven weeks and then be shipped to another facility in Allamakee County. The entire facility would be power-washed before the next batch of piglets arrived.
According to County Zoning Administrator Bob Scanlan, the request is actually to amend the CUP that had previously been approved to change the size of the manure pit, not the animal units.
"That might be true, but Scott is also changing the size of the building to a capacity two to three times what we approved last year," Commissioner Tom Bjerke pointed out. "Iím concerned if we approve the larger building, the number of pigs will go up as well."
Scanlan replied one of the stipulations includes that no application can be made for an expansion of animal numbers for a period of two years from the completion of a new building.
"But how does the county police something like that?" Bjerke asked.
Scanlan said the county would make numerous unannounced visits to inspect the facility. "We have had one guy we have seen 11 times in the past year who has been out of compliance. We would certainly be checking this out," Scanlan said.
"But what are the consequences if heís not in compliance?" Bjerke countered. "Isnít it just a slap on the hand?"
It was noted county ordinance violations are misdemeanors and punishable by fines of $100 or more. If violations persist, the violator can be taken to court and the operation can be shut down.
Scanlan pointed out the county has approved a building for 300 AU and that Sanness just wants to change the manure handling system. "I talked to Rick (County Attorney Rick Jackson) and he indicated it would be very difficult defending a decision not to approve the CUP request," Scanlan warned.
"We approved a facility that would house 750 market hogs with a smaller pit. Now heís coming back with a plan to make the building two to three times as large. It would be so easy for him to increase the animal units. Heís just jumping over the hurdle," Bjerke said. "This isnít what we agreed to last year."
Commissioner Larry Graf asked Sanness why he is changing the plans that were approved last year. Sanness replied the industry is changing and more operators are raising hogs from 10-pound nursery pigs right up to market hogs, and only change the barn twice a year. But he found a company that still wants nursery pigs raised at one facility and then transported to another after seven weeks.
"So wouldnít it be very easy for you to change with the industry and start raising hogs in this larger building youíre proposing from nursery pigs right up to market hogs?" Bjerke asked.
Sanness said he would have too much money stuck in the equipment required to raise the nursery pigs to switch over within the next few years. "I plan to use this set-up for the next 10 years, minimum, before I would think about switching," he said.
Scanlan then read off six criteria that Sanness had to follow when the original plans were approved. They included:
ïMust obtain and abide by all federal, state, and local rules and regulations;
ïAll manure is to be knifed in;
ïManure storage basin (pit) to be ventilated and biofilters used;
ïEnzymes are added to the pig feed (to cut down on smell);
ïA revised plan must be submitted to the zoning office before construction is started;
ïNo application can be made at this site for an expansion of animal numbers over 300 AU for a period of two years from completion of the new building.
Since the original six criteria were approved, Scanlan recommended two more.
ïBuilding limited to 300 AU of capacity (physical capacity);
ïMust submit an engineered design of basin that meets all Minnesota 7020 rules prior to a pre-construction meeting.
Bjerke asked Scanlan how the county would monitor the smell produced by the proposed facility. Scanlan replied there are monitoring devices the county can obtain from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The devices could be situated on the property lines.
"What happens if there are a bunch of frivolous complaints from people who want this shut down," Graf asked. Scanlan responded the county would have to monitor the situation and determine if the complains were valid or not.
Commissioner Ann Thompson asked why the County Planning and Zoning Board had turned down Sennessí CUP request. Environmental Services Director Rick Frank stated the county planning and zoning committee did not feel Sannessí proposal met the land use plan and that he didnít demonstrate a need.
Graf asked how many large livestock operations were located in Houston County. Scanlan said there are more than 30 with over 300 AU.
"Scott, you wonít be living near this operation. These things smell. What about the people living near where you want to build this? They were living there first and then you stick this right in their back yards?" Bjerke commented.
Sanness responded he does live on a hog farm with buildings on three sides of his house. And the operation on his farm doesnít utilize biofilters to cut down on the smell. He added he knifes the manure into the soil to help cut down on the smell. "You donít see any of my neighbors here complaining. And I donít think any of them have come to the county and registered complaints," Sanness said.
"Iíve tried to do this right," Sanness continued. "I want to have a large storage pit (with enough capacity) so during the winter months when the ground is frozen I wouldnít be forced to spread it right on the frozen ground. I wouldnít have to do all this. I could spread the manure every day, blow it right on top of the fields. But I want to work with my neighbors."
Gary Wilhelmson of rural Spring Grove said he was concerned with the large manure storage pit. "I have a shallow well. What if something happened, a spill, a leak? Thereís a potential for groundwater damage.
"This is nothing but a hog factory," Wilhelmson continued. "Itís not like regular farming, where a farmer helps the local economy by buying his goods, equipment, and supplies from local merchants. Heíll be buying everything out of the area. And what about our property values when it stinks so bad in the valley? We canít hang our clothes outside, we canít have barbecues outside. You will be setting a precedent if you approve this. Come to Houston County if you want to build a large hog factory!"
"It comes down to a trust factor," John Dahle of La Crescent said. Dahleís parents, Ivan and Helen Dahle, live in the Waterloo Creek valley, where Sanness plans to locate the facility. "Persons living in the valley have spent over $8,000 in attorney fees fighting this. He is proposing a very big pig factory in a very small valley. Itís just not right."
Wilhelmson noted that although he heard talk about law suits being filed if the CUP isnít approved, he feels the county could have law suits filed if Sannessí request is approved.
"Maybe thatís where this needs to be settled - in a courtroom," Wilhelmson said.
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