BEATRICE – An Iowa-based livestock development company Wednesday asked the Gage County Board to reconsider its recent decision to deny a special use permit for a 6,250 head swine operation north of Liberty.


Mitch Baum, representing Summit Pork of Alden, Iowa…..made the request to the county board during a public forum part of the board’s agenda. "Everybody is well aware of the site, it's placement, how we've met or exceeded the zoning regulations in your county. I believe there's been numerous opportunities for a number of board members to come visit the site in northern Gage County that is under construction now, as well as the site that was proposed and that you voted on, at the previous board meeting."

Baum asked the board to reconsider its earlier motion to make an informed decision that the project near Liberty meets and exceeds current regulations in county zoning requirements.


The county board did not introduce a motion to reconsider the vote on the permit, taken two weeks ago.  Because the matter was brought up during Wednesday’s public forum, supervisors were prohibited from debating the request. It would have to be listed as a specific agenda item.


On November 1st, the Gage County Board rejected the special use permit for the project near Liberty, on a 3-3 vote. Five affirmative votes were required for approval, since at least twenty percent of adjoining landowners registered formal objections to the permit sought by Otto Farms and Summit Pork.


The vote followed a public hearing process before both the county planning commission and the board of supervisors.