2,000 Animal Units Will Be New Feedlot Cap

The review and changes to the Rice County Feedlot Ordinance were initiated by the Planning and Zoning Department last year to more closely align the County ordinance with the State ordinance. It was expected that this would make the County ordinance easier and less expensive to administrate. Of Course, one of the most important changes would be in the maximum animal units (a.u.) allowed in any feedlot operation. The State does not have an animal unit cap and, there is a difference in the way animal units are calculated between the two ordinances with the State's definition being more lenient. However, being the fearless leaders that they are, the Commissioners decided to part with the State Ordinance on the issue of a.u. caps.

The numbers 1,500, 2,000 and 3,000 animal units were kicked around but after "careful" consideration during the deliberations, three of the Commissioners came to the conclusion that the maximum number of animal units within the county should be capped at 2,000 a.u. Although a vote cannot be taken until the language is cleaned up and the discussed additions to the Feedlot Ordinance are made, Commissioners Plaisance, Gillen and Brown have declared their intentions to vote for the 2,000 a.u. cap.

It is no surprise to anyone who follows the Commissioners Meetings that Plaisance and Gillen would vote for the cap, after all, Gillen is a dairy farmer and Plaisance has animal farming in his background. However, Brown's reason for voting for it took those of us in the audience by surprise. He stated that by adopting the State definition of a.u.s, a modest increase in actual animal numbers would accrue to all farmers except the dairy farmer. His gobbledygook reasoning was that the dairy cow was lighter than the steer which is the foundation from which all the manure output of the other animals is calculated. He said the "differentiation between species" was inconsistent and, by going with the higher 2,000 a.u. number, the dairy farmers would also benefit with a modest increase in numbers of animals.

Commissioners Bauer and Malecha stated that they intended to vote against the proposed cap number because there was no support for the change in their districts. They were then subjected to considerable pressure from the other Commissioners who lionized the importance of natural fertilizer in this day and age, adding that it would soon be helping to power energy plants. However, Bauer and Malecha stood their ground for the sake of their constituents. Good for them! We should all be so lucky to have Commissioners who represent us that well.

Commissioners speak:

"If we didn't have no livestock in Rice County, we wouldn't have any natural manure at all!" Milt Plaisance

"I'm sticking with 1,500 a.u. based on calls and e-mails I have received." Galen Malecha

"I asked for support, but I can't get any support for it in my district." Steve Bauer

"The NaySayers are not well informed." Jim Brown

"I am standing behind what I proposed." Jake Gillen

Hazardous Waste Facility Expansion

February 5, 2008 Commissioners Meeting


Are you one of Rice County's residents forced to fight for a parking space at the Hazardous Waste Facility? Or, are the days and hours of the facility inconvenient for you? Well, if so, help is on the way! (Maybe later than sooner - but, hey - this is county government we're talking about.)

Citing the growing popularity of the Hazardous Waste program, increasing storage limitations and future safety issues, Mike Cook, director of the Solid Waste Department, asked the County Board's permission to have an architect draft plans for the facility's expansion.

Currently, the facility is responsible for the Ag Pesticide Program and the Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) program as well as being the sponsor for Steele and Waseca counties. With so much space being required for each program, Cook expressed concern that if the facility did not expand, further restrictions on hours or discontinued programs could result.

The request was supported by a vote of 4-0, Jake Gillen being absent.

Commissioner speaks:

"I think that we will be in the hazardous waste business for a long time." Milt Plaisance

There is an ongoing discussion between the County and Bridgewater Township about the landfill and hazardous waste disposal facility which is located in that township. I was able to reach Bridgewater Township Supervisor, Leif Knecht, for a comment:

"The handling of our waste is very important and Bridgewater Township has been accepting waste from the whole County going on 35 years. I am encouraged that the County is starting to look at longer range solutions and I am encouraged that Bridgewater, through the use of the Hosting Fee provided for in the Minnesota Statutes, can make preparations for the day when funding is needed to take care of the problems 3 million yards of deposited waste can generate. Further, it is a good thing that both the County and Township are addressing the issue."

Other Solid Waste Topics:

1) Commissioners expressed interest in going to a "single sorter" processing for recyclables. This means all recyclables can be set out for haulers, mixed in one container, and they will be sorted at the Recycling Facility. Evidence from other recyling facilites shows this to be the most popular option and is credited with encouraging more recycling. This, in turn, extends the life of landfills.

2) The IRS turned down Rice County's request for a 0% interest federal bond to construct a wind generator. Most of the money went to smaller turbines in the $2 Million range while Rice County would require $3 Million. This will not stop future efforts to establish wind power at the landfill.

3) Jake Gillen and Milt Plaisance will be Commissioner-Delegates in a multi-county initiative to determine future possibilities of waste disposal. Some options that may be investigated are composting and incineration of waste.