At this time, country
homes properties are zoned in five-acre increments. John Stewart
stated that if this zoning were reduced to one-acre lots, "manure
complaints will increase."
"Other adjacent rural
counties require up to 30 acres per country home lot. Five (acres)
should be the minimum," he said.
Kyle Alexander, a
local hog farmer near Primm Road, is concerned that new homeowners
will attempt to sue him and surrounding hog farmers for concerns
about hog waste odor, insects and sanitation.
After the meeting,
Alexander explained that his farm uses state-of-the-art procedures
to minimize health issues related to waste disposal. "After we
scrape and wash down the hog building, the waste shoots down into
the lagoon," he said. The agitation of this waste breakdown
increases the odor.
"The problem is, if
country homes are too close, people are going to start complaining,
and lawsuits will be filed," he said.
Alexander's farm is
adjacent to properties owned by Ed Metters. Metters stated that he
was not previously aware of the five-acre rule and requested that it
be changed.
Zoning chair David
Hepler asked for evidence of hog farms being put out of business by
residential complaints. Board member Charles Ruben was unable to
cite specific cases but stated that "this is a tremendous issue."
"Several hog farms
have been sued out of existence because of these continuous
complaints," he said.
Another concern for
hog farmers is that one-acre zoning could limit their ability to
expand their hog farms on their own land. Currently, a distance of
140 feet is the minimum allowed between adjacent property and the
"honey wagon" waste disposal. Alexander stated that he could not
possibly expand with country home neighbors so close.
The Logan County
Board seems to be split on this issue. A straw vote will take place
on Aug. 19.
Other issues to be
voted on at next week's board meeting include the Transportation
Improvement Proposal for an overlain runway at Logan County Airport.
Airport committee chair Robert Farmer stated that the original bid
for the project was $259,000, but the actual projected expense will
be $334,000. Charles Ruben noted that since the bid is over budget,
a two-thirds vote will be necessary on Tuesday for approval.
Committee chairman
Pat O'Neill stated that Logan County Animal Control is currently
having an aluminum can drive to raise funds for the shelter. Cans
will be collected and stored at the local animal shelter. A raffle
is also scheduled for Sept. 6.
Richard Logan
reported that electric repairs for the courthouse basement are
complete, but he mentioned concerns about the repairs needed for the
dome. An architect is assessing the leakage.
Tuesday's vote will
include the proposal for changing courthouse phone services from
Ushman to Verizon. The cost will be $2,654, with a 5 percent
increase each year of the three-year contract. Logan reports that
Verizon's services at the Logan County Safety Complex have been
satisfactory.
Logan, chair of the
building committee, stated that WMAY radio has requested to
broadcast from the courthouse lawn during the celebration of the
Lincoln Sesquicentennial.
