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CAFO moratorium set to expire

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County Board Chairman Tom Cornford makes a presentation to County Clerk Janet Geisler for her 41 years of dedicated service to the county.

By Ted Pennekamp

 

By a vote of 9-6, the Crawford County Board of Supervisors chose to table further discussion involving extending the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) moratorium during its regular meeting Tuesday morning. Two board supervisors were absent.

The board had enacted a one-year moratorium on CAFOs on Dec. 19, 2019. The moratorium went into effect on Dec. 31, 2019. By tabling the issue, the moratorium will expire on Dec. 31.

Prior to the vote, County Conservationist Dave Troester told the board that results of well testing conducted in Crawford, Richland and Vernon counties, known as the Driftless Area Water Study (DAWS), are now known. 

“It’s a great first step,” said Troester, who noted that 89 wells selected randomly throughout Crawford County were tested. The wells were spread throughout the county and did not concentrate in any specific location. Troester noted that six of the wells tested between 10.1-20.0 milligrams per liter (mg-L) for nitrate, and four tested positive for E-coli bacteria. The drinking water standard is below 10 mg/L. The county had six wells (or 7% of the wells tested) above the health standard. Statewide, the number of wells above the nitrate standard is usually closer to 10 percent.  

For bacteria, the county’s four E-coli positive wells equate to 4.5 percent, whereas a state average would be between 2-3 percent, said Troester. Troester noted that it is not known if the source of the nitrate or the E-coli is human or animal waste or some other source.

Supervisor Dave Olson said he does not want to be anti-farming. Supervisor Mary Kuhn said the Marrietta Town Board has been very silent on the moratorium issue. Olson echoed her sentiment, saying that the town of Marrietta (where the proposed CAFO Roth Feeder Pigs II would be located) had a year and a half to enact land use ordinances or other such remedies involving the CAFO. Olson said the issue is a town of Marrietta problem and should not have been taken up at the county level.

“Marietta Township apparently doesn’t have the backbone to deal with this situation,” said Olson. Olson said that if a CAFO abides by state and county ordinances, they should be allowed to proceed. 

Supervisor Don Stirling said the board still doesn’t understand what the impacts of a CAFO spreading 10 million gallons of liquid hog manure would be. Supervisor Mary Kuhn turned to Stirling and said, “I’ve told you this before, we can’t make this about targeting one particular farmer.”

In other business, the board heard a presentation announcing the Crawford County Community Fund grant recipients for 2020.

The grant recipients are the Couleecap Homeless Prevention Program for $1,000; the Ferryville Farmers Market                                            $750; the Friends of Gays Mills got two grants, one for dam building rehabilitation for $1,000, and one for the Millhouse structure and light display $1,000; the Gateway Boy Scouts                                                     $500; Mississippi Valley Conservancy $500; Southwest Wisconsin Technical College $750; and the Valley Stewardship Network $500.

Near the end of the meeting, the county board and all others present recognized County Clerk Janet Geisler for her 41 years of dedicated service to Crawford County. Geisler will be retiring at the end of this year. She received 41 roses, a plaque with her photo on it and several other awards.

Geisler worked for the county for 41 years, with 24 years as county clerk. She is the longest serving county clerk in Crawford County. 

“I am looking forward to relaxing,” said Geisler in part of her speech. She also thanked her husband Mike and members of the county board.

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