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Saline County Study Committee
Monday, June 26, 2000
Saline County Extension Office, Marshall
Minutes

 Saline County Study Members Present: Mark Belwood, Kathy Borgman, Wayne McReynolds, LeAnn Haling, Vince Buck,
Richard Clemens, Becky Plattner, Marc Harris
Saline County Study Members Absent: Ruthie Cramer, Roy Hunter
Saline County Commissioners Present: Mike Dillon
Saline County Commissioners Absent: John Stouffer, Richard Pemberton
Saline County Extension Staff Present: Cynthia Crawford,
Saline County Extension Staff Absent: Darin Starr, Rachel Miles
University Partners Present:  Wendy Petersen
University Partners Absent: John Lory, Tom Johnson, Chris Barnett, Kathy Miller, Mubarak Hamed, Chris Fulcher, Dr. Ron Powers Anna Cox, Jim Meyer, Jerry Organ
Marshall Democrat News:  Chris Post

 Chairman Mark Belwood called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.  Mark announced Anna Cox would not attend.  She has found a glitch that produced differing totals in the preference rankings and will e-mail corrected version.  The Democrat News has requested information about the study including total participants of the LIFE and Town Hall meetings, breakdown of funding for the events, volunteer hours, how many paid and how many received full and partial scholarships to the LIFE sessions and the occupations of participants.  The only thing we do not have information on is the occupations of participants since that was not requested.  Since much of the information requested is not in the form requested, it will take a matter of time to comb the records to provide such.

 Richard Clemens reported on a conversation with Shelly Arth.  Shelly thought the timing of the meetings was bad and did not allow for farm representation.  Richard said he took issue with that and thought there had been plenty of opportunity for participation from anyone interested.

 Mark reported Carol Brown sent a postcard and apologized if in responding via e-mail multiple copies had been sent.   Mark read Bill Livengood’s letter listing 11 items of information he felt we had not adequately gathered.  Mark’s response will indicate much of this can be obtained on the web, however, our web site does need updating and could be more user friendly.

 Vince Buck presented Mark Belwood a plaque in appreciation to the Saline County Study and Extension office for their role in the LIFE sessions.  All participants of the LIFE classes were listed.  The plaque was designed by members of the June LIFE class.

 LeAnn Haling asked that, as we are moving into the recommendation stage, individuals not be directly quoted in the paper.  Chris Post replied that was not possible.  The meetings are open and he represents all the people who could attend, but did not.  Mark Belwood responded that the Sunshine Law also requires meetings and discussions be open.  Richard Clemens reported that he had talked to the prosecuting attorney and if any threatening letters or contacts are made to individuals, they can be reported to the sheriff and the individual prosecuted.

 The main agenda item for the evening is initial comments from each study member as we begin the recommendation process.   Mark views all comments as tentative because:

 There was a discussion on Planning and Zoning and the question was asked, “Do we have a copy of the Lafayette Planning and Zoning Document?”  It is also possible to have a planning document without a zoning regulations document.  This is being done in Carroll County.  The Study Group requested Mark obtain a copy of the Carroll county planning document.

 Mark asked that we all listen respectfully, ask clarifying questions, and take between now and July 10 to read and reflect. Besides the July 10 meeting, a July 24 meeting was set, both at 7:00 p.m. at the Extension office.  Mike Dillon reiterated his desire that commissions only be present to provide information, if asked, and not participate in the recommendation process.  LeAnn said she would like to have at least one commissioner present to provide information on such things as “How does one pass an ordinance?”  LeAnn moved we have representation of commissioners at the next study meetings to answer any questions we might have of a procedural or technical nature.  Richard Clemens seconded, Carried.

 Mark asked if we wanted to update the photomaps for our rural residence data layer.  Richard Clemens moved we do so, LeAnn seconded. Carried.

 After a break, study members made initial comments on their feelings about recommendations on land use to the Saline County commission.  Wendy Petersen, Extension staff, served as recorder for this portion only, to allow recorder Kathy Borgman full participation in the discussion.

 Wayne McReynolds:

 

Excellent ag area, with capacity to handle large volume of nutrients.
Water quality has improved over last 50 years.
Need for some regulation, more to prevent development in rural areas.
Any regulation should not be under the pretence of doing one thing to control another, i.e. it is either a health issue or it isn’t.
DNR has some regulations, more trouble with unpermitted CAFO operations.  We have 9 Class I operations and about 35 operations in the county.
Involvement, education, and discussion will be needed to make orderly transition and not kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

 Becky Plattner:

 There are “other things” people don’t want “next door” to them, such as junk yards and prisons.
There is fear of not knowing what is moving in when land purchases are made.
There is the issue of larger planning in a community, one wants to keep dollars at home, so you want some of these things (prisons, etc) to benefit the county, but they are problematic.  A CAFO is better than a prison.
What comes under the realm of a health ordinance?  Who enforces a health ordinance?  Why not the sheriff?  Why is another health staff person needed if there is a health ordinance passed? 
 Comments from other members of the committee pointed out the enforcer needs training, so the sheriff deals with criminal activity, the health office with environmental and health issues, division of family services with family issues, etc…

 LeAnn Haling:

 The initial direction of the study was to discuss how to combine zoning and ag land. 
It is incorrect to think that CAFO’s are all that has been addressed.
There is fear associated with zoning, yet zoning can give control over county density of development, neighborhood behaviors and can protect investment of property.
We need to be good neighbors and stewards.
More local government is better than fear of “big Government.”
There is the ability to file a nuisance suite against someone, but a Good Neighbor plan could resolve some issues earlier.

 Mark Belwood:

 During the study, we used three tools that were helpful and should be continued:

 Originally, this was a pilot project and still after three years, we are only scratching the surface of what is possible
 Maintain the CARES Website.
Expand the CARES Website to make county government access more available.
Openness of government is integral to development.
County Extension Councils direct the research the university does.  This relationship with Extension can be beneficial, but county councils should be representative of the people.
 Were it not for the agricultural exemption, planning and zoning would be the better option for the CAFO issue.  Ideally, the state legislature should remove the exemption entirely; less ideally, but probably more achievable, would be a reclassification of some CAFOs as industrial.
Regulation is not seen as so problematic if done at the local level.
If use good neighbor policy/conservation easements, do so only through a plan approved by the vote of the citizens.
A health ordinance should only be used if there is a health issue.
Keep studying.

 Vince Buck:

 There is a fear of “what’s next,” the domino effect, if we limit CAFOs today, tomorrow it is chemicals.
 At this point, several people entered in a “back and forth” discussion:
 If there is more public talking, this relaxes the fear level.
CAFO operations are not expanding in the county or even country, but are going to foreign countries; can we export all our farming?  Do we want to?
If CAFO’s leave, will local farmers buy back the land or produce hogs again?
Urbanization it coming at us from both sides, taking valuable farmland, who will do the farming?
There has not been much development on Hwy. 240 between Slater and Marshall, because most of the land has been held by family farms, but what will happen in the next generation? Money talks, and people will pay large sums for a few acres on the highway.
Back to a fear of regulations: yet the government already has many regulations tied to subsidies. If you want government help you must follow government regulations.  If you want Monsanto products, you sign the agreement and operate as they say.  We are letting it happen to ourselves.

 Marc Harris:

 Marc did sit down with a group of diverse people at the beginning of this whole issue, hog farmers and those opposed to hog farming.  A lot can be solved by talking with your neighbors.
Not knowing what is happening is worse than anything else.  
Back to the good neighbor policy, one could do about anything if there is acceptance in the area. 
The end product of the earlier formed group was a resolution with accountability but with no penalties.

 Kathy Borgman:

 Do three things on two levels:
 On the state level work for removal of the largest CAFO operations from agriculture and classify them as industrial.
The size of the operation is more important than whether it is family owned or corporate owned.
On the local level, favors a health ordinance that deals with odor emissions at the boundary and protection of ground source water.  We need to be realistic about our ability to enforce a health ordinance.
On the local level favors a Planning, Good Neighbor, or Mediation Board.  It does have “teeth” because it gets people discussing and planning even if there are no enforcements attached to it.  Use the board first and then use the court system if needed.

 Richard Clemens:

 We have been through a lot in three years.  We have stuck to our mission statement.
People are against regulations but when a CAFO/Junkyard/Prison comes in next-door then opinions change.
Need to be proactive.  Doing nothing is not an option.
Initiate a temporary health ordinance based on protection of water.
More inclined toward the planning aspect of planning and zoning.
Stay an agriculture/livestock area. Keep that growing
Protect residential areas.

 General discussion picks up at this point from several people:
Local people are mad because outsiders are the owners and not local families, so make them commercial/industrial and tax accordingly.
Protect family farms:  Farmers are mad because of who owns operations, citizens are mad because of size of them.
There is a state statute that allows implementation of planning, much education needed, so the planning becomes more important than the law.
There is a concern that planning without zoning would be ineffective because it cannot be enforced.  It was suggested we talk to some counties who have planning and zoning and find out how often cases are challenged and end up in court. 
Permit fees can keep out the family farmer.
Corporate farms dictate prices so smaller farmer cannot compete.
We have come a long way.  We can work something out.
People are watching.  Shouting matches will not work.  Time and processes are necessary for change, even if you come back to conclusions that were made initially.
Attempt to determine what makes sense to the people in Saline County.
Any plan must be enforceable.
Must get people to talk.

 Meeting adjourned 10:10 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Borgman, Recorder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This web site is hosted  by CARES- University of Missouri - Columbia
This web site is maintained jointly by the Saline County Study Steering Committee and CARES
For problems or questions regarding this web contact the Saline County Steering Committee or  Chris Fulcher (CARES).
Last updated: October 13, 2000