BEATRICE - In two weeks, the Gage County Board will decide whether a 6,250 head swine project can be built, north of Liberty.  Wednesday, supervisors heard mostly from opponents of the southeast Gage County project….such as Vicky White, of Liberty.


"Democracy won't mean anything if you vote for this against the wishes of the people of Gage County, Liberty and Island Grove Township. We are asking you to vote no on this permit...do the right thing for your own local citizens."


The permit application of Adams area farmer Dean Otto and Summit Pork of Iowa has received a state operating permit from Nebraska and scored highly on the site selected.  Otto plans to use the liquid manure to inject as fertilizer into his fields. Carl Jacobsen, who works for Summit Pork said despite the project being characterized as corporate farming, it has a lot of impact locally.


"We're working with a group in a neighboring county and people in Gage County. They buy feed in Gage County. Our general contractor is from Gage County and employs people in Gage County. A lot of the subcontractors are very local to this project. Ultimately, I think that is important. I'm not very old obviously, but I've done this for seven years and this is one of the most local projects I've ever been involved with."


Prior to the start of the more than two-hour-45-minute hearing, Gage County Board Chairman Erich Tiemann recused himself from discussion on the project. One of his companies is doing work on an initial Otto Farms-Summit project between Pickrell and Adams…..work which began after that permit gained final approval.


On this second Summit plan…Max Larson of Liberty said there’s a tough decision to be made.  "I don't envy the position you people are put in...being asked to vote for something an entire community is not in favor of. I've been reminded of economic value. Yes, there will be some in the beginning. But I figure Summit's profits will go to Summit and go to Iowa. Livingston's profits, will go to LIvingston, in Jefferson County. I see very little for Gage County.....there will be some."


Residents Patricia Barnard, Clint Rule and Margaret Haith had sought a temporary restraining order, naming as defendants the Gage County Planning Commission, County Board, County Attorney, Zoning Administrator, Otto Acres and Summit Pork LLP.  Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner has denied the temporary restraining order, with a hearing now set for October 30th (11 am).


Opponents of the confined animal feeding operation project have cited odor, effect on groundwater, property values and roads in the area.


Meanwhile, a project that has no opposition will also go to the county board in two weeks for approval. That’s construction of 60-by-120-foot pole building for a new seed business and warehouse, on property owned by the Four Generations Farm, near Pickrell.