St. Joseph County CAFO Ordinance Approaching
St. Joseph County Commissioner Steve Ross, D-District 2, is the originator of the proposed ordinance. Ross said he will introduce the measure when the commissioners meet Tuesday.Ross said the ordinance is intended to be applicable to the CAFO proposed for Union Township, and to ensure that both the environment and public well-being are taken into consideration.Unless it is somehow derailed, the ordinance could get first reading at the council’s April 11 meeting and be eligible for public hearing when the council meets on May 9.
Once the ordinance is in the council pipeline, Ross said, he will seek a moratorium on the issuance of building permits needed for the dairy operation. If granted, Ross said the moratorium would last until the ordinance is either approved or rejected by the council.
“That’s where the real power of the county lies,” said Ross, noting that once building permits are issued they can’t be rescinded or retracted. The proposed Walnut Grove CAFO near Lakeville contemplates a 3,500-head dairy cow operation. Thus far, the proposal has been vehemently opposed by Union Township residents who live near the site, on Riley Road west of Ironwood Road. There is currently no county ordinance that would affect the proposal, an agricultural operation in an area zoned for agricultural purposes.
“I’m not surprised,” said Walnut Grove partner David Schrock when told of the ordinance. “We’ll have to play this thing out. How much the proposed ordinance would slow the CAFO from proceeding is uncertain.Schrock said earlier this month that he was about 30 days away from submitting a permit application to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and that the timetable calls for construction of dairy buildings to begin later this year and be completed by early2008.
County Commissioner Cindy Bodle, D-District 3, said the measure appears to be a good ordinance, adding that she wants to hear comments on it from the health department, building department and area plan commission.
Ross has primarily opposed the site of the CAFO rather than the CAFO itself. “I think this is a bad location,” said Ross, adding that he would prefer it if dairy operators sought an alternative location. As proposed in the ordinance, the board of health permit approval would be based on determining that the proposed site is served by adequate access roads and has proper drainage.The board also would have to determine that the facility would not result in air or water pollution or soil erosion, and would not be detrimental to public health, safety or welfare.
