SYLVESTER - Pinnacle Dairy Farm, a 5,800-cow facility set to be built on 127 acres along County FF and Decatur-Sylvester Road, has hit a few snags in efforts to meet conditions set into the permit issued by Green County on April 6.
Green County Conservationist Todd Jenson explained to members of the Land and Water Conservation Committee Thursday that despite issues with meeting elevation requirements, Pinnacle owner Todd Tuls has pushed forward.
Jenson included three conditions in the farm's permit approval.
In phase one, Pinnacle engineers were instructed to dig a trench, which they have done, Jenson said. On his last visit, he noted that the elevation needed to be an additional nine-tenths of a foot in order to meet requirements. There was water in the trench, which farm engineers said was rain water.
However, Jenson told committee members that the engineer from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection indicated it was groundwater. Because of this lack of clearance, Jenson said he "had to fail it."
After Pinnacle workers pumped more water out following heavy rains within the last month, Jenson said his visit again proved negative for Pinnacle excavators; an additional two-tenths of a foot was needed throughout the 20-acre site. Following this discovery, Tuls told Jenson the workers would raise the entire area by a foot.
Phase two outlined the need for tile to drain the area meant to hold the storage units. Seven monitoring wells were put in place. Jenson said evaluation still needs to be done to ensure water is draining with the use of the material. Because the wells are padlocked, Jenson said he has to check with Pinnacle engineers before visiting the site for tests.
Green County Conservationist Todd Jenson explained to members of the Land and Water Conservation Committee Thursday that despite issues with meeting elevation requirements, Pinnacle owner Todd Tuls has pushed forward.
Jenson included three conditions in the farm's permit approval.
In phase one, Pinnacle engineers were instructed to dig a trench, which they have done, Jenson said. On his last visit, he noted that the elevation needed to be an additional nine-tenths of a foot in order to meet requirements. There was water in the trench, which farm engineers said was rain water.
However, Jenson told committee members that the engineer from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection indicated it was groundwater. Because of this lack of clearance, Jenson said he "had to fail it."
After Pinnacle workers pumped more water out following heavy rains within the last month, Jenson said his visit again proved negative for Pinnacle excavators; an additional two-tenths of a foot was needed throughout the 20-acre site. Following this discovery, Tuls told Jenson the workers would raise the entire area by a foot.
Phase two outlined the need for tile to drain the area meant to hold the storage units. Seven monitoring wells were put in place. Jenson said evaluation still needs to be done to ensure water is draining with the use of the material. Because the wells are padlocked, Jenson said he has to check with Pinnacle engineers before visiting the site for tests.