First Reading of Amended CAFO Ordinance Approved

The Grant County commissioners met in regular session Tuesday, December 20. The Grant County Planning and Zoning Commission made a recommendation to the commissioners to accept Ordinance 2016-01A, an amendment to Ordinance 2016-01. The ordinance was voted on, passed, and adopted June 9, 2016.

A public hearing was held with the P&Z board and commissioners in joint session. Todd Kays, Executive Director of First District Association of Local Governments, gave background about the process leading to the original CAFO ordinance and reasons for the amendment.

Kays explained, “The reason for this amendment is to give headroom for existing small operations to grow and to clarify the vesting process. This amendment only affects the vesting process for existing operations. It does not change anything about the original ordinance passed by the public vote for new operations. Any new CAFO will need to follow the setbacks and all permitting requirements set forth in the original ordinance.”
The floor was opened to the public. Questions were presented for clarification, but no objections were made.

“We need to protect the small producers that have always been here,” stated commissioner Paul Dummann. “I applaud the P&Z board and fellow commissioners for working on this and coming up with a compromise. We did the best we could. We can’t make everyone happy, but I feel this is best in protecting a majority of the operations within our county.”

“I, too, feel this is a great compromise,” stated Nancy Johnson, president of P&Z board. “This amendment encourages expansion among the small producers.”

The commissioners approved the first reading of Ordinance 2016-01A and set the date for the second reading and adoption of the ordinance for Thursday, December 29, at 8:30 a.m. A public hearing will be a part of that final process.