Hearing Set for Agribusiness Ordinance

An additional public hearing, including the second reading of Ordinance 2016-01B- the Agribusiness Activities Ordinance- is scheduled for Tuesday, April 4. The hearing is at 9:30 a.m. during the regular meeting of the Grant County Commissioners.
Grant County Auditor Karen Layher said the public hearing is necessary because some items require correction before the ordinance is adopted. She also explained, “This ordinance is for businesses in the county operated on agricultural property but are commercial businesses apart from a residence.”

The first correction is under section 1215.01 – intent. The correct verbiage states: “agribusiness activities include identified commercial activities involving the handling, storage, processing, and shipping of farm products. Agribusiness activities are operated as a principal use on a property, and are not operated accessory to residential uses.” The statement, “may be operated as extended home occupations, when such activities are accessory to the residential use of the lot”, has been taken out of the intent description.

The next correction falls under section 1215.02 – requirements. The first point states, agribusiness activities must have access to a concrete, bituminous asphalt, or county maintained gravel street. Added to that point is: “or upon written approval of the township authority for a township road”.

Point five in the same section has been changed to read: “no equipment or process shall be used which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot.” The phrase “used in such extended home occupation” has been deleted.

In other business, bids were opened for the sale of a 140H Caterpillar motor grader declared as surplus. A bid of just over $66,000 from Caterpillar was accepted. A right-of-way occupancy application from ITC was approved. Economic Development Corporation Executive Director, Bobbie Bohlen, and Interlakes Community Action Partnership Executive Director, Cindy Dannenbring, presented updates.

The next regular meeting of the Grant County Commissioners is Tuesday, April 4, at 8 a.m. at the Grant County Courthouse in the commissioners board room on the second floor.