St. Joseph County Official Seeks CAFO Moratorium
One of the St. Joseph county commissioners, Democrat Steve Ross, is pursuing an ordinance that would put a moratorium on new CAFO operations, claiming that the proposal for a large dairy farm merits further study of what role the county should play in such a development.
Ross made his intention public following a voluntary presentation on the proposed dairy by the local property owner who is partnering in the dairy with Peter van der Vegt. The farmer noted that he needs nothing from the commissioners, just approval of the water permit by IDEM. That is exaction the problem, according to Ross:
Ross, who said he believes the proposal has become a land use issue, announced that he has asked a deputy county attorney to write an ordinance that could be presented to the council, possibly at its April meeting.Ross said he is concerned about the location of the proposed farm, a portion of which, Ross said, is located in a flood plain.
Link (South Bend Tribune).
Ross said he would like to see something in place at the county level to review proposed CAFO’s, and talked about a “farmer’s board” to hear proposals and make recommendations to the county.
March 12th, 2006 05:36
[...] Milk Factory When cow numbers get into the thousands for a dairy farm, it’s no longer a dairy farm, it’s a birth of a new industry enterprise. It’s now a milk factory and I feel our laws and ordinances have not been able to keep up.That’s the quote from St. Joseph County farmer Dean Carbiner in a story on WNDU 16 on the local reaction to plans to install a 3,500 head confined dairy operation near Lakeville, Indiana: Right now, it’s solely up to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management if the proposed farm gets the go ahead. Carbiner, a member of St. Joseph County Quality of Life, explains, “We the people of St. Joseph County definitely need your help to protect our homes, our properties, roads, draining systems, and water systems and our supplies, and most of all, our families.” Gene Graham, a St. Joseph County resident, says, “There are 41 homes within one mile of this proposed site who’s property values are at risk.” The only thing county council members can do is listen and maybe change things for the future. It’s because of the current permit process Schrock believes he’s caught in the controversy.St. Joseph, like many rural Indiana counties, is realizing too late that intensive farming operations need the same level of planning that other industrial plants require to prevent negative impacts on the community. Previously: St. Joseph County Official Seeks CAFO MoratoriumCAFO Face Off: St. Joseph CountyCAFO Community Meeting in St. Joseph CountyFrom the CAFO Front: St. Joseph County [...]