Supervisors accept master matrix for confinement unit

By BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

The master matrix for a new hog confinement was accepted during Thursday?s Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting, and some residents were on-hand to air some of their concerns regarding the issue.

The 4,800-head confinement will have a standard eight-foot deep pit underneath it and will be located on Gabriel Avenue, northeast of Trenton. According to Joe Buffington and the Henry County supervisors, the confinement meets all the requirements of the master matrix.

During the public forum portion of the meeting, however, two residents voiced some of their concerns regarding the master matrix making reference to what they feel are lax regulation of concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) systems.

?We are considering an expansion of another CAFO system that has several points that would reflect on stewardship,? said community member Ron Wyse, reading aloud from a letter he had prepared for the meeting. ?These points consist of care for the animals and the environment, concern for the health and welfare of human beings and concern for our relations with our neighbors. Changes must be made to improve in these and more areas of society.?

Wayland-area resident, Marj Van Winkle was also voiced her opinions, many of which mirrored those of Wyse.

?According to the DNR, 4,800 hogs can generate millions of gallons of raw, untreated sewage in a year?s time,? said Van Winkle. ?This sewage will likely be spread, untreated in the fields surrounding our neighborhoods. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning unless we change things.?

Van Winkle and Wyse?s concerns heavily surround how the DNR regulates and supervises concentrated animal feeding confinements like the one seeking approval on Gabriel Avenue. Many believe this not enough legal regulations in place to hold the DNR accountable for how well and how often concentrated animal feeding operations are supervised to ensure all environmental mandates are being performed properly.

?As a supervisor, I have received a lot of comments about safeguarding the environment when it comes to animal confinements and such,? said Supervisor Marc Lindeen. ?Many members of the community do realize that something needs to happen with regard to these issues.?

While an official resolution to fully approve the confinement is yet to be brought before the Henry County Board of Supervisors, Buffington says that once the DNR performs their site visit of the area, a resolution should be on its way.

Buffington says that the supervisors could likely expect an official resolution for the CAFO?s approval next week.

The next Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting will be Tuesday, May 19, at 9 a.m., at the Henry County Courthouse.