Another battle over large confinement operations, coming up in Gage County
Summit Pork proposing a second confinement operation...this one in southeast Gage County
By News Channel NebraskaBEATRICE – The Gage County Planning Commission next Tuesday holds a public hearing on a planned concentrated animal feeding operation proposed, near Liberty, Nebraska.
A small group of protesters objecting to so-called CAFOs has been on the county courthouse grounds, prior to the past two county supervisors’ meetings.
The proposal is the second plan from Alden, Iowa-based Summit Pork LLC. County Zoning Administrator Lisa Wiegand says it’s the first stage of a process that goes both before the planning commission and then the county board.
"Planning and zoning makes a recommendation. We have our meeting planned for next Tuesday evening. Letters were sent out to a large number of people which included a large portion of Liberty, since it is a mile-and-a-half from Liberty. As required, also the Pawnee County line, since 196th (Road) is your county line for Gage and Pawnee County. Planning and zoning makes a recommendation....they hear the testimony....everyone will have the opportunity to speak for, against, or in a neutral state. P-and-Z looks at their regulations and they'll make a recommendation. Then, the process starts all over again."
From that point, the Gage County Board holds a separate public hearing and makes a decision to approve or disapprove the special use permit application for the project.
Wiegand said the planning and zoning department went beyond minimum notification requirements, expanding the area where notification of the permit and hearing was made.
The hearing before the commission is Tuesday, August 29th, starting at 6:45 p.m,....at the courthouse board room. The proposed site of the operation is just northeast of Liberty, along the Gage-Pawnee County line….in Island Grove Township.
County supervisors Wednesday approved sending a letter to the planning department requesting a review of regulations on livestock confinement facilities and operations. The Board also approved the reappointment of Derrick Damrow to serve another term as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission.