Foster County Planning & Zoning Board

~Citizens against the Mega-Dairy LOCATION ~

 

Join Us, and Prevent the STINK!

HOMEPETITIONINFORMATIVE LINKSCONTACT US

 

Click here for a new web site about Carrington:  CarringtonNews.Com.

 

 

Interesting Article:  Stink Goes All the Way to London!

 

We will continue to add links to informative web sites that concern animal factories,

such as mega-dairies, and the problems that they bring to communities when they are in the WRONG LOCATION.... especially regarding how they negatively affect residential areas, water aquifers, streams, family wells, groundwater, air quality, community health, property values, and how

they tend to push out long-time citizens and family farms in the area.

Click here for more recent links.

 

IMPORTANT NEWS about Large Animal Facilities (Such as Mega-Dairies)

 

4/30/08  The Pew Commission Report (A 2 ½ year study) Is in the News:  Pew Commission Says Industrial Scale Farm Animal Production Poses “Unacceptable” Risks to Public Health, Environment

 

 It is the concentration of farm animals in larger and larger numbers in close proximity to one another, along with the potential of IFAP facilities to affect people, that give rise to many of the public health concerns that are attributed to IFAP. Animals in such close confinement, along with some of the feed and animal management methods employed in the system, increase pathogen risks and magnify opportunities for transmission from animals to humans. This increased risk is due to at least three factors: prolonged worker contact with animals, increased pathogen transmission within a herd or flock, and the increased opportunities for the generation of antimicrobial resistant bacteria (due to imprudent antimicrobial use) or new strains of viruses. Stresses induced by confinement may also increase the likelihood of infection and illness in animal populations.

Communities near IFAP facilities are subject to air emissions that can significantly affect certain segments of the population. Those most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic or acute pulmonary or heart disorders—are at particular risk. The impacts on the health of those living near IFAP facilities have increasingly been the subject of epidemiological research. Adverse community health effects from exposure to IFAP air emissions fall into two categories: (1) respiratory symptoms, disease and impaired function, and (2) neurobehavioral symptoms and impaired function.

 

 

The PCIFAP consists of 15 Commissioners who bring individual knowledge and expertise in diverse fields, including public policy, veterinary medicine, public health, agriculture, animal welfare, the food industry and rural society.  The Commission assessed the current state of industrial animal agriculture based on site visits to production facilities across the country; consultation with industry stakeholders, public health, medical and agriculture experts; public meetings; peer-reviewed technical reports; staff research; and Commissioners’ own expertise. PCIFAP is a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
MORE INFO...

 

The Official Report in Pdf Form
 

 

VICTORY!

Board Votes 4 to 2: NO to Mega-Dairy

Wrong Location - Property Values Protected

 

        [3/11/08]  Approximately 80 people listened attentively as members of the Foster County Planning and Zoning Board expressed their views regarding the Van Bedaf's wish to have a mega-dairy within 3 miles of Carrington. Illa Zink led the arguments against granting the Canadians a permit to establish a CAFO so close to town.  High on her list of objections was the negative impact that a mega-dairy would have on the families and property values surrounding the proposed site.  Dwayne Erickson agreed and stood up for protecting the rights of the families who were already established in that area.  The final vote was 4 to 2 against granting the permit.  [Opposed: Dwayne Erickson - John Holth - Illa Zink - Tom Zink  /  For:  Don Frye - Justin Spickler]

 

 

"IT'S A DONE DEAL"

MEGA-DAIRY APPROVED BY FOSTER COUNTY

IN A 2-0 VOTE

(COMMISSIONER CARR DID NOT VOTE)

 

4/1/08  THE FOSTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OVERRULED THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD'S 4-2 VOTE AGAINST THE DAIRY.

COMMISSIONER CARR DID THE RIGHT THING!  WE HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF COMMISSIONER CARR'S ROLE IN THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF HIS PAST MANURE AGREEMENT WITH THE OWNERS OF THE PROPOSED DAIRY.  ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED DAIRY, THE PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED.  MORE IMPORTANTLY, COMMISSIONER CARR OBEYED THE LAW BY NOT VOTING AND DID THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CARR.

 

    April 7, 2008 - Foster County Independent:  Read the following articles...

April 7, 2008 - Letter from Carrington couple summarizes events surrounding Mega-dairy location: "...confusing issue"

 

See predictions about the future of Carrington and Foster County.

 

 

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?    4/6/08 REVISED (See last paragraph)

           [3/13/08]   StinkFreeCarrington.com was created because of Foster County's need for responsible community/government leadership and the need for better communication between elected officials, ag interests, and the citizens of Carrington and Foster County.   This web site was basically the result of an application for a permit to establish a 1500-cow mega-dairy within three miles of Carrington.

          To explain, it seemed that some of our elected city and county officials felt that the needs, wants, health and economic welfare of people from another country were far more important and outweighed the welfare and wishes of the citizens who elected them.  They led the Van Bedafs, dairy owners from Canada, to think that Foster County would "roll out the red carpet" for  their mega-dairy.   As well, they were supported by members of the state dairy coalition, NDSU experts, paid engineers and consultants, and various other ag interests who treated this venture as if it were a valuable asset to the community.

          Regrettably, some of our community leaders seemed to let their own personal interests dictate their choices when deciding what was best for Carrington and Foster County.  Their attempt to keep the mega-dairy project under wraps until the last moment, away from the scrutiny of the general public, infuriated many people who would normally have welcomed a dairy such as the Van Bedaf's --
IF it were placed in a more appropriate location -- further away from settled families and the largest population center in the county.

         Consequently, the selfish interests and aspirations of certain local entities, as well as their support by certain state, university, farm/ag entities led to a conflict which could have been avoided.

          By working together, and considering the interests of ALL concerned, the mega-dairy project should have been a success.  After all, Foster County is a pro-farm community with most of its citizens being farmers or having farm connections.  To repeat, the major stumbling block was mainly the choice of LOCATION.  Another location, further away from Carrington and settled families, would have removed the concerns for odor nuisance, aquifer/water contamination, and health risks for nearby family members with respiratory illnesses.

          Hopefully, in the future, our community leaders, the North Dakota State Department of Agriculture, our agricultural universities, the Farm Bureau, and corporate agribusiness will base their actions on the understanding that quality of life issues are as important to people in small communities, such as ours, as their desire for economic growth and development.   With North Dakota's wide open spaces, and with adequate communication between all parties involved, it seems like there should be plenty of room to support everyone's needs and aspirations.

          In the meantime, StinkFreeCarrington will remain as a website devoted to keeping Foster County citizens informed about  planning and zoning issues that may affect their lives.   We are also devoted to keeping our air and water clean and our city and county safe from those who only wish to exploit it for their personal gain at the expense of others.

 

4/6/08  NOTE TO ALL CITIZENS OF CARRINGTON:  Our Foster County commissioners have, by lack of adopting any local set-back ordinances, other than the State's, established a one-half mile set-back for any and all types of mega-dairies and large-scaled feeding operations (CAFOs).  Without any other adoption of setbacks for Foster County, Carrington can be circled by mega-dairies, hog farms, and other types of CAFOs that want to come into our area, within one-half mile of the city.  

 

 

 

 

NOTICE:  2/13/08  Our concerned citizens meeting took place at the Armory in Carrington on February 12, 2008,  with approximately 40 people attending.  The main concerns addressed were: the location of the Mega-dairy and its closeness to Carrington and the Carrington aquifer... the possibility of it contaminating our ground water; the fact that we need stricter county regulations regarding large CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations such as this Mega-dairy) that want to come to our area; that much of the planning for this proposed Mega-dairy in Carrington was done by some community leaders without notifying the general public. 

 

2/13/08  Read about how some of our community leaders tried to stop our concerned citizens' meeting.  Update 2/22/08

 

Read letter from the MEGA-dairy applicants, addressed to the Planning and Zoning Committee. Notice the names of the people who have been working to bring this Mega-dairy to Carrington without notifying the public.

 

Read about how a document put out by North Dakota State University (listing precautions that should be taken regarding livestock waste management) suddenly disappeared after we linked to it on the Internet.

 

"County votes against proposed dairy" (SiouxCity Journal.Com) - Read about a situation similar to ours that is currently taking place in Lawton, Iowa.

 

See other information found in the Van Bedaf's "Application for Approval of Livestock Waste System:"

 

~ a list of landowners within 2 miles of the proposed site

 

~ a list of residents living within 1/2-2 miles of the proposed site

(Question: Are these landowners and residents aware of this proposed MEGA-dairy site?)

 

~ a map that shows "potentially some of the land available for manure application" (Notice that some of the marked land belongs to one of our Foster County Commissioners (Commissioner Carr).  Also notice that the potential area for manure application is much closer to Carrington than their proposed dairy site.)

 

2/18/08  Carrington Independent: Allen Stock (2/18/08) -- "Tom Erdmann, spokesperson for the Chamber Ag Committee noted last week that, "'You really can't bring things out to the public until some signatures are on dotted lines.'"  Read more...

2/18/08  Interestingly enough, our server and this web site got knocked offline part of yesterday and today so that we haven't been able to update anything since then.  However, people HAVE been able to access the Jamestown Sun's newspaper article where the mayor of Carrington, Don Frye, is quoted as saying that some of our comments are "racist" as well as information being "inaccurate and inappropriate."  Please note that he appears to be one of the committee members who have been meeting with the dairy owners and who want the Mega-dairy to locate near Carrington.  Question:  Which is worse, someone who is supposedly a "racist" because he doesn't want a bunch of illegal migrant workers coming to the area and depleting the local economy, or an elected public official who seems to be with-holding important information from the public which may affect their lives in a negative way?

2/20/08  Plausible Deniability:  Don't give your public officials the chance to use this excuse.

2/08  Read about Calmar, Alberta, the area where 9 out of 12 BSE positive (mad cow disease) cows have been identified... the area where the Van Bedaf cows are coming from

2/08  Letter Addresssing Some of the Comments that Commissioner Carr Had Published in Our Local Newspaper

2/24/08  What is more important?  Are out-of-country, big money interests more important than our neighbors and friends who have been living here and supporting our community for years? 

2/26/08:  Local citizen speaks to Planning and Zoning Board 

2/27/08  Report on the February 26th Meeting before the Planning and Zoning Board

2/27/08  Mayor Frye - Deep-Fried

2/28/08  Read the Jamestown Sun report written by Jackie Hydra.

2/28/08  Large CAFO's surrounding Carrington?  A hog factory?  Read more...

3/3/08 Read the Foster County Independent news article "Pros and cons of the dairy"

3/3/08  Local citizen questions mayor's actions (Letter to Editor, Foster County Independent)

3/7/08  "There are reams of scientific research reports documenting the linkages between CAFOs and various public health risks."  Read about the "precautionary principle" in regard to CAFOs.

3/7/08  Mega-dairy engineering plan not available to public...  WHY?

3/9/08  Letter to Foster County Planning and Zoning Board

3/10/08  First casualty of the proposed mega-dairy:  Real estate sale near Carrington cancelled!  Buyer, scheduled to close (on March 11th) on property two miles from Carrington finds out about proposed mega-dairy and decides not to close deal.

3/10/08  Concerned citizens committee gets first look at mega-dairy engineering plan... Questions immediately arose regarding flaws and incomplete information.

3/11/08  VICTORY! Board Votes 4 to 2: NO to Mega-Dairy - Wrong Location - Property Values Protected

3/13/08   What Have We Learned?

3/19/08  Carrington Citizens Betrayed...for 30 pieces of silver or a pile of cow waste?

3/19/08  It's the LOCATION, Mr. Carr! Not the dairy!  Why does it have to be so close to Carrington?

3/20/08  Why is Mr. Straley supporting this dairy? Is it because he has a signed contract for the Van Bedaf manure, that he has a monetary interest, like other proponents of the mega-dairy?

3/20/08  What Is Running This Whole Controversy?

4/6/08  Predictions

 

HOMEPETITIONINFORMATIVE LINKSCONTACT US

 

Read about a recent manure spill from a mega-dairy lagoon in Maryland.  Do we want to take a chance that something like this could happen to Carrington?

Update: 2/14/08

 

 

Manure spill could mean months of temporary water supply
Originally published

January 30, 2008
By Gina Gallucci - Frederick News-Post Staff - Maryland

 

Photo by Sam Yu  - Vicki Poole holds a glass of water on Tuesday afternoon that she got out of a home faucet last Thursday. The Poole family lives on Glade Road near Walkersville.

 

WALKERSVILLE -- For town residents who remember the 1999 sewage spill that forced them to use a makeshift water supply for five months, this could be worse. Test results this week from untreated water show the levels of bacteria and E. coli are greater than in 1999, said Mike Marschner, director of the county's Division of Utilities and Solid Waste Management.

The contamination is the result of a manure lagoon pipe that burst last week, said town commissioner Chad Weddle. The burst actually created two spills, one on Jan. 22 and a second Friday night into Saturday morning.

This spill took about four days to infiltrate the town's water supply, compared to 1999 when it took nine days, Marschner said.

These findings were released during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at Town Hall. The meeting room was packed with media, town and county officials and concerned residents.

More...

 

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008
Farmer apologizes for massive manure spill

 

~~~

 

"One fear is that what happened in Walkerton, Canada, could happen in our community. In the small Ontario town, which is the site of several dairy farms, seven people died and 2,300 became ill  ...  after drinking water polluted with E. coli, a bacteria contained in cow manure. Cow manure washed into a nearby well after a heavy rain, causing the health crisis, says Peter Rehak, spokesperson for the Walkerton Inquiry, a public commission established to investigate the tragedy."

-Metro Times - Detroit-

 

 

 

Citizens against the Proposed MEGA-Dairy To Be Located near Carrington, North Dakota

 

We believe the proposed MEGA-dairy project as it is now planned is a potential odor nuisance to any person living in Carrington or Foster County (North Dakota) who wants to enjoy the outdoors or the ability to have their windows open.

 

THE PROBLEM is that the proposed MEGA-diary is planned to be placed only 3 miles southeast of our city.  As we all know, the prevailing winds come either from the northwest or the southeast.  This means that we will be in a direct path of this planned 1750-cow dairy.  It is well understood that this type of condensed cattle feeding operation can create odor that can travel between 4 to 5 miles.  

 

We are not asking that dairies be prohibited from operating in Foster County.  What we are asking is that the proposed MEGA-dairy not be so close to and in a direct wind path to our city of Carrington.

 

As well, we are requesting a moratorium on this type of condensed cattle-feeding operation until and unless the county can put in place some reasonable local regulations and violation-enforcement capabilities.

 

We believe this MEGA-dairy will be harmful to Carrington and Foster County citizens because of the obvious offensive odor it will create.  If approved by the Foster County Commissioners, this project will bring more than a bad odor or stink to our community.  It will also bring numerous other problems.

 

Potential Water Pollution:

 

This MEGA-dairy solution to avoid contamination of our ground water is the creation of a 20+ million-gallon holding pond.  Their plan is incomplete as to the exact type of holding pond that will exist.  As well, control of surface water is critical.  How would their pond be able to handle 6-12 inches of rain such as has recently occurred in/around our area?

 

Considering the difficulties our local authorities have had in abating the problems with a local cattle feeding company near Carrington, how can we trust their abilities to monitor and abate any potential nuisance from this MEGA-dairy with few - if any - regulations currently existing?

 

Jobs for the Community:

 

Are the potential MEGA-dairy owners intending to go the route of the dairy in Towner, North Dakota?  The owner of this 700 cow dairy, after his workers were arrested for being in the US illegally was stated as saying, “he does not have enough help now to care for his 700 animals and he may have to sell off his herd.”

 

Anyone who has any experience working at a dairy knows it is difficult work.  This is not a family dairy staffed only by mom, pop and the kids.  It’s a MEGA-dairy... milking, feeding and cleaning manure in shifts 24/7 each and every day of the week.

 

When our “community leaders” talk about the jobs a MEGA-dairy will bring to the community have they seriously considered what these jobs pay?  More importantly, have they given any thought to what our community will be forced to pay for the influx of these low-skilled and low-paying jobs?

 

All of us want new jobs being brought to the area, but what kind of jobs and at what price?  Jobs that serve as a magnet for transient or illegal labor don’t add to our economic base.  These jobs don't add to the wealth of a community.  In fact, they have been proven to be a drain by increasing crime, welfare, health care and education expenses.

 

Health Care:

 

All throughout the United States hospitals, and more importantly, the taxpayers are footing the bill for undocumented workers.  Agreeably, we at this point have no way of knowing how the MEGA-dairy plans to staff their operation.  They could plan on paying above minimum wage and provide excellent health benefit coverage to their workers.  If they did so, they would be a rare exception to most all similar operations.  

 

The time to act is now!

 

This project is now before the Foster County Planning and Zoning Board.  They have had one meeting so far and have scheduled another meeting for March 11, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.  We need to continue to voice our opposition, continue to have petitions signed and present them to the board at the next meeting.

 

As well, each of us needs to phone our Foster County Commissioners and tell them that we want a STINK FREE CARRINGTON! 

 

SEE THE ABOVE LINKS FOR THE HISTORY OF THIS WEB SITE.

 

 

CALL COMMISSIONERS TO PROTEST

THE MEGA-DAIRY!

 

Foster County Commissioners

 

Chairperson:
Dwayne Erickson
180 90th Avenue SE
Kensal, ND 58455
Ph #: 701-435-2388
Cell #: 701-653-5202


Vice-Chairperson
James E Carr
6825 2nd Street NE
Carrington, ND 58421
Ph #: 701-652-3316
Cell #: 701-650-1383
 

Member
LeRoy Hart
7975 3rd Street SE
Carrington, ND 58421
Ph #: 701-285-3310

 

 

 

 

Click here to print out a copy of the petition.

 

 

Near a Large Dairy in ID

 

~~~

AS-1155
Scott Birchall, Livestock Waste Management Specialist

"One of the most important decisions when planning any livestock facility is site selection. The site for the feedlot operation must not only be suitable for housing, handling and feeding cattle, but also must ensure that surface and ground waters are protected and that the impact from odors is minimized. Whether you are planning a new facility or modifying an existing one, the following checklist may help avoid costly mistakes....

 

Odor
Minimizing the impact of odor on neighboring residents is a combination of:

~Recognizing the prevailing wind direction. In North Dakota, this is usually from the north west or south east (or north/south in the Red River Valley).
~Using topography to your advantage. Odor tends to "drain" down slope in the evening in summer.
~Reduce visual impact. Visual confirmation of dust is more likely to result in odor complaints. Windbreaks will also help break up odor plumes and provide stock protection.
~Providing a buffer distance to the neighbors. It is difficult to specify a particular buffer distance without taking into account the previous factors. Be aware that odors from some larger facilities have been detected 4 to 5 miles distant. Anyone planning a facility within 1 to 2 miles of neighboring dwellings will have to provide more detailed information on how they plan to minimize odor."

Read More...

 

(The above web site

-produced by the North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service-

is extremely informative about the precautions that should be taken regarding livestock waste management.  How does the proposed MEGA-dairy intend  to address these concerns?)

 

 

~~~

 

When the wind blows across the MEGA-dairy lagoon and toward town, say good-by to outdoor family gatherings and visits on the front porch.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOMEPETITIONINFORMATIVE LINKSCONTACT US

All the content of this web site (except links to other web sites) is solely the property and responsibility of Ted Keller, dba YourCounties.Com.  We invite any questions, objections, corrections or comments about the content of this web site, all of which  should be directed to info@stinkfreecarrington.com.  We promote and advocate free speech in this forum and invite opinions of others.  We will glady post any opposing arguments in  favor of the proposed LOCATION of the mega-dairy.

 

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