Commissioners hear citizen CAFO proposal

By BILL RICHMOND

City editor

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners Monday heard from Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Randolph County (ECCRC) representative Rachel Carpenter a series of recommendations to regulate confined animal feeding operations. Carpenter said her recommendations are in response to a County Farm Bureau zoning proposal recently presented to the Area Planning Commission and the county commissioners.

"We are very concerned about recent CAFO growth in the county," Carpenter said. "In the past three years, the number of permitted swine in the county has increased by 400 percent. That does not count the 14,400 still in the permitting stages. These new, larger corporate CAFOs are beginning to cause big problems for Randolph County. CAFOs emit harmful gasses including ammonia and hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter that can carry harmful bacteria."

Carpenter said that although ECCRC members were pleased to see best management practices incorporated into the Farm Bureau proposal, they feel the setbacks should be more than the suggested 1,000 feet maximum (750 foot minimum with adherence to best practices standards).

"We feel the Area Planning Commission's recommendation of 1.320 feet is better," she said. "But the setbacks should be from property lines, not residences. People have a right to enjoy their whole property, not just their homes, and that needs to be protected.

"If we are going to have setbacks of 1,320 feet, we believe that best management practices need to be required. We recommend that biofiltration be required on all pits and all lagoons be covered. Other best management practices such as tree plantings, precision feeding and pit additives should be highly incentivized."

She said the ECCRC would also like to see:

€ A permanent cap on new CAFOs, at a number to be set by county officials.

€ A requirement that all CAFO operators live on the site where their operation is located.

€ The commissioners reconsider the potential of issuing a legal moratorium on CAFOs.

€ A law requiring that no manure be spread on weekends, holidays or on frozen ground.

"It is public perception that CAFOs have been encouraged to locate in Randolph County through tax incentives as if they were industry," she said. "Therefore, they should be regulated as industry. It is unfair to Randolph County to allow continued CAFO growth with no regard for the neighbors of these operations. Their quality of life has been compromised and they can no longer fully enjoy their property."

Commissioner David Lenkensdofer said the commissioners are investigating a variety of issues related to CAFOs and their potential effects on neighbors and the environment. The commissioners will present their reports on these issues at the board's May 5 regular session meeting.

Local farmer Aaron Chalfant said the suggested setback increase would have a dire effect on local farmers hoping to expand their operations and young farmers hoping to start an operation in the area where they grew up. He said the end result would mean essentially "moratorium through setback."

The commissioners also heard a report from Randolph County Emergency Management Director Rick Brown on a variety of issues regarding his office.

Brown suggested changing the date of the annual Fly-In Breakfast from its traditional first Sunday in June to Saturday, June 14. He said several people who help put on the event have conflicts this year with graduations.

Commissioner Kathy Beumer suggested that Brown check with the Winchester Area Chamber of Commerce to see if there are other community events that would conflict with the June 14 date. If there is no conflict, Buemer said he should proceed with that date in mind.

Brown also asked about the possibility of establishing a county Emergency Operations Center (EOC). He said two prime options are using part of the Winchester Street Department facility or a building on County Road 200 South owned by local communications professional Tim Thornburg.

"We really need a permanent home for our emergency operations equipment," Brown said. "We're still in the talking and exploring stage right now, trying to decide which way we want to go with this. I wanted to let you know there will possibly be a need."

Beumer and Lenkensdofer asked Brown to make a list of the pros and cons of each location, along with price quotes. Brown said that while have such a center is optional, it is important for the county to have one.