EXHIBIT B Reprinted with permission Farmers Gather to Discuss Feedlot Proposals Monday, April 4, the temperatures dropped as the wind blew and the sleet came down, even though emotions were on the rise as over 50 farmers gathered on a gravel road in Gardner township. The farmers gathered there for a Richland County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to discuss the first of two applicants trying out the new feedlot permit process. Joe Henderson, chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, told the gathering that no decision could be made unless the ten closest property owners were notified. One farmer stated that he did not receive notification, therefore no decision and only discussion and comments were taken at this hearing. The first point that Henderson made was no rural residence could be within one-half mile of the proposed building site. He also explained that no conditional use permit will be recommended by the County Planning Commission until the Commission determines that the permit satisfies all the Findings of Fact. The first hearing was called on behalf of Jim Mosely, veterinarian and resident of Greenville and owner of the proposed building site which is located 6 ¼ miles south of Summit on County Road 52. Mosely explained to the large group that he proposed building two contract finishing barns that would hold 1,000 hogs each. This would be an All In/All Out operation in which all of the feeders were brought in at the same time and would finish at the same time. The operation would use deep pits, rather than lagoons. They would be emptied once a year and knifed into the 570 acres that he has available for spreading. There were concerns expressed by the farmers during the hearing. The first was "What tax advantage would this bring the township?" Mosely explained that although he did not know the mill levy for the township, he roughly figured that one-half of the building and pit investment would be taxable. The investment was expected to run $300,000 according to Mosely. The second concern raised was the issue of manure spreading. Mosely explained that the soil would be tested for nitrogen levels prior to spreading and that he estimated that he needed 1/10 acre per pig. Mosely added the reason that they were using deep pits instead of a lagoon was to help control the smell and pests. One farmer asked if Mosely felt that it was a good idea to run competition with farmers. "I don't really think that I am looking at competition with farmers. I am joining the same ranks as they are," he responded. Mosely was questioned about the existing building sites located several miles from the proposed site. According to comments made by the farmers there have been problems with the buildings. One farmer stated, "I can't believe that everything is going to run so sweet and honey like you said on the buildings because (before) you dumped the building in the back of somebody's building site and secretly put it in. Don't tell me that you being out in front of us, you're just telling us what you want us to hear." Mosely responded that he would show the farmer diagrams and pictures. "Only because we're on you now," was the reply. Because of the notification process there will be a second hearing for this permit request on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30 in the Extension Meeting Room in the Courts Building in Summit. Again the farmers gathered for the second hearing that was held in Bellman Township, approximately 1½ miles west and south of Hailey. The application was made by Bob Randolph, also a veterinarian from Greenville, to be used on the farm site currently operated by his son Dave. A decision will be delayed until the second hearing because the City of Hailey did not receive notification, and because an acreage owned by Harvey Christiansen is located within the ½ mile radius of the proposed site. The second permit was again for two finishing barns that will hold 1,000 hogs each. The buildings would also have deep pits with nine month's storage. There are 380 acres available to spread manure. The remainder of the discussion centered on the smell affecting the City of Hailey, manure storage and spreading, locality of neighbors and Randolph's current position as a veterinarian in Greenville. A second hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 20 at 8:30 pm in the Extension Meeting Room of the Courts Building in Summit.  Main Menu | Teaching Note | Decision Case | Exhibit A | Exhibit B | Exhibit C |
