Van Buren renews Master Matrix

The Van Buren County Board of Supervisors approved the renewal of the Master Matrix Monday.

The matrix is a scoring system through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources that can be used to evaluate the siting of permitted confinement animal feeding operations. Counties that have adopted a construction evaluation resolution can use the Master Matrix in determining whether or not a confinement should be built. Counties must re-adopt the construction evaluation resolution every January to continue to use the master matrix.

Producers in counties that have adopted the matrix must meet higher standards than other permitted facilities. Before they can be approved for construction, they must earn points on the Master Matrix for choosing sites and using practices that reduce adverse impacts on the environment and the community.

Supervisor Marvin Philips said the Master Matrix ?wasn?t anti-agriculture, but it allows the county some input.?

Philips said the biggest advantage is that it gives the county advance notice of a confinement facility and enough time for a proper response. Supervisor Mark Meek said it was his ?desire to have it adopted, because we have some say so.?

Supervisor Ted Nixon said he supported passing the construction evaluation resolution.

The vote was 3-0.

The supervisors took public comment, and opinions were voiced in favor and against the Master Matrix.

Richard Bird said that the number of ?polluted waters in Iowa has grown,? and that the Master Matrix was needed.

However, Rick Plowman said adopting the matrix might have the opposite effect and drive producers to build smaller operations that don?t have to meet requirements.

?Will we end up with something that we didn?t want in the first place?? Plowman asked.

Philips said he understood that concern, but that even smaller confinements have to meet guidelines.

He did cite, however, a Cantril facility that was made smaller after the county won an appeal to the environmental protection commission last year. In that case, the county?s position was it didn?t score enough points in the Master Matrix.

However, Philips said Iowa has many other point sources of pollution other than animal agriculture.

?As far as I am concerned, Ottumwa does a good job polluting the Des Moines River and Fairfield has its pollution problems from wastewater bypasses. If that would have been a hog producer, the state would?ve shut it down,? Philips said.

Plowman also added that there was a ?difference between those people who actually want to stop pollution and those wanting to stop animal operations.?

Lora Conrad said while there may be other pollution concerns, ?the only opportunity we have to exercise in our control is the matrix.?

She noted that 88 of the 99 Iowa counties have adopted the construction evaluation resolution.

Chuck Teeter also voiced his support for the Master Matrix.

Ten county residents were present for the discussion.

? Local health nurse administrator Lindee Thomas and county sanitarian Miles Boatman were present to update the board on action taken by the board of health at a recent hearing on updated on-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems rules and regulations. The board of supervisors will consider approval of these rules at 1:15 p.m. Jan. 3.

? County engineer David Barrett was present to update the board on various road projects, including motor grader delivery, Eagle Drive/Lick Creek road slides, Spruce Avenue box culvert, 120th Street box culvert, Osage Avenue drilling for bridge replacement, resolution on funds for V64 improvements, and fiscal year 2013 budget review. Barrett said the Eagle Drive project is on hold until cooler weather allows the contractor to place rock and do other work. The box culvert on Spruce Avenue should be done Friday. Barrett said at the next rock crushing, he is looking at doing 1 inch rock instead of 1.25 inches rook. The total money spent on the next rock crushing is estimated to be lower than the last time it was done, Barrett told supervisors. An addition to the county shop to accommodate an inside wash bay is being considered.

? The board approved a resolution approving an application for RPA XV surface transportation program funds for improvements to county road V64 from Iowa Highway 2 to county road J40. The improvements will be done in fiscal year 2014.

? A preliminary review of the fiscal year 2013 proposed budget was discussed with the county auditor.