Posted: 7/3/07
County board tables Sanness hog facility CUP request
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The Houston County Board decided to table a conditional use permit (CUP) request made by Scott Sanness, 13467 County Road 27, Spring Grove, during the June 26 board meeting. The commissioners felt they needed more information concerning the proposed hog facility before rendering a decision.
Sanness had 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.
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 animal units) 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 powerwashed before the next batch of piglets arrived.
County Zoning Administrator Bob Scanlan told the county board Sannessí neighbors are opposed to the facility. He added a decision needs to be made how the manure would be handled. The options being looked at are a smaller pit that would be cleaned out two or three times a year, versus a larger pit that would be cleaned out once a year.
County Attorney Rick Jackson commented he would be more comfortable with a smaller pit that would have to be cleaned out every four to five months.
Gary Wilhelmson of rural Spring Grove told the commissioners he and his neighbors have spent thousands of dollars over the past two years fighting the proposed hog facility and thought they had reached a compromise last summer.
"Itís not fair to the people living in the area,"" Wilhelmson said. "We think we have an agreement, something we can live with, and then he decides to change his plans. There are too many people and too many houses in this area for what he wants to do. He had a smaller facility approved last year."
A motion was made by Commissioner Dave Corcoran and seconded by Commissioner Larry Graf to table the request until the July 3 meeting.
In other action:
Health insurance shopping
In an effort to save taxpayer money, the board approved a recommendation to shop around for better insurance rates for health and voluntary coverage for county employees.
County Personnel Director Tim Comstock encouraged the board to approve soliciting requests for proposals for county health insurance coverage and for other types of voluntary coverage the county offers.
"It is a statutory requirement that we solicit proposals every five years," Comstock explained. "While this was last done in 2004, it is an opportune time to explore other more cost-effective coverage options that may be available, since our existing health insurance coverage has been steadily increasing.
The board instructed Comstock to place requests of proposals in area newspapers to solicit bids.
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