By Katrina Vander Kooi and Sara Quam
Glenn Overgaard voiced his concerns about a neighbor's cattle feedlot with the Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.
Overgaard owns a farm "within a few feet either way of a half mile" from a feedlot that's under construction. The feedlot, owned by (name of owner, Norm Overgaard?) and located in Kanaranzi Township, has 3,200 head of hogs.
"I ask [the county] to look in and investigate it thoroughly." Overgaard said. "I am in protest to this situation."
Land Management Director John Burgers said the feedlot is in compliance will all regulations, state and county.
Overgaard had four concerns he voiced at the board meeting. First, he questioned the process of notifying neighbors if a feedlot permit has been applied for. "It is my understanding that neighbors are to be notified 10 days from the application of the permit," Overgaard said. "I'm questioning if all people were notified."
Second, he said that the owners of the feedlot won't be living on the property where the feedlot is located. "They're building a building and not evening living there," Overgaard said.
Third, Overgaard was concerned about the water and noise pollution that could be generated from the feedlot. Overgaard stated that there is a potential for Rural Water near the feedlot to be contaminated.
Dan Cook at the Rock County Rural Water Office said that an Environmental Assessment Worksheet was completed on the feedlot, and showed no problems.
Fourth, and most important, Overgaard wanted proof that the feedlot was an existing one. He believed it to be a brand new feedlot and under current ordinances, the permit process would have been different.
County Attorney Don Klosterbuer and Assistant Attorney Glen Petersen were present at the meeting. "Existing verses new feedlot is the key issue," Klosterbuer said.
According to the Rock County Land Management Office, the difference between constructing a new feedlot and expanding an existing feedlot is the distance from neighboring residents. New feedlots must be one-half mile from a neighbor, and existing feedlots that are expanded are allowed to keep their current location.
According to Petersen, an existing feedlot must exist five years prior to application and must have ... (Glen needs to call me back tomorrow).
Overgaard believes there was not livestock on the land prior to the feedlot, so therefore it is not an existing feedlot. County Board Member Bob Jarchow said that he was involved with the house on that property as a caretaker. He asked the owner to plow the area for him, and the owner said he would do it without a charge because he had livestock on the land to feed anyway.
Klosterbuer suggested to the board that the matter be dealt with between the county attorneys and Overgaard's private attorneys. The board agreed to his suggestion. Overgaard asked that the board still keep an active interest in the issue.
In other business Tuesday the board:
Heard a report from Retired Senior Volunteer Program representatives. This year the number of volunteers has increased, and there are 41 stations in the community for participants to volunteer. It is for people ages 55 and older.
Discussed putting in a security system in the court house and the family services building. A button would be installed into both places that when pressed would alert law enforcement.
Was updated on the possibility of building a new armory in Luverne. There will be an armory committee formed with representatives from each part of local government.
Learned of the meeting with county and city groups and developer Don Dunham and his attorney on Tuesday, Aug. 21 to discuss the proposed community daycare.
The meeting will mark the deadline for Dunham to respond to his breach of contract notification. Dunham was contracted to provide a community daycare in the old Elementary School in exchange for tax abatements but has failed to do so because of contract interpretation differences.
Was introduced to new Southwest Regional Development Commission Director Jay Truste and discussed the closing of Prairie Expo.
Got an update on the Lincoln Street project in Luverne. The city is now in the process of replacing sewing water lines before the street can be finished.
Learned from Family Services Director Randy Ehlers that Pinnacle Programs, Magnolia, is in negotiations with Rock and five other counties to provide emergency shelter care. Bridgeway, a facility in Fulda previously provided the same services for eight counties in the region until it closed in April.
Rock County spent about $31,000 last year at Bridgeway for less than 200 days of total service. Emergency foster or shelter care is used only when the child is a danger or is in danger. If an actual crime has been committed, the child goes to a juvenile detention facility.