MONROE - During a Land and Water Conservation Committee meeting Thursday, members requested an update from Green County Conservationist Todd Jenson on the status of the incoming concentrated animal feeding operation Pinnacle Dairy, LLC.
Jenson shared a panoramic photo taken of the site taken this week, stretching in a 180-degree view over the 127 acres of farmland, soon to be cement, along County FF and Decatur-Sylvester Road in the Township of Sylvester. A retention pond butted up to Decatur-Sylvester Road while equipment drove through flooded tracks in the dirt.
The site, owned by Friedly Bader Farm LLC, was given conditional approval to build the 5,800-cow dairy on April 6 from county staff, but with three attached conditions. Jenson said the facility has met its first condition, but still needs to complete its second.
In phase one, engineers dug a trench and eventually proved it would not collect groundwater at the bottom. Phase two, which Pinnacle engineers are working to complete, requires tile to drain the area meant to hold the four manure storage lagoons. Jenson explained with the help of a drawn diagram how far Pinnacle workers need to go before phase two can be passed.
At the end of July, water was collecting at 750 feet. When county staff inspected the site on Wednesday, it was sitting at 753 feet. To place four-foot tile in the ground along three of the four sides surrounding manure storage structures, water needs to be at 745.53 feet.
"The way the water is sitting out there right now, they would have to raise the pits," Jenson said, indicating that the manure and water mixtures would then need to be pumped over a wall instead of naturally flowing to a retention pond as part of the steps to avoid contaminating nearby water sources.
If that significant change to plans is necessary, the site would require permit changes as well, Jenson said.
A leachate pit planned for the northern side of the facility has been dug 12 feet deep and stretches over "a four-minute walk," Jenson said. Because the builders have not yet put manure storage in place, the facility will ship it to Rock Prairie Dairy, a CAFO owned by Nebraska native Todd Tuls, who also owns Pinnacle.
Some residents have expressed frustration at Pinnacle's construction in the area, citing concerns over groundwater and air quality within the township. During his visit to the site, Jenson said engineers found a number of nails lying on Decatur-Sylvester Road, which garnered an audible groan from each committee member as well as three members of the public still present at the end of the meeting.
A public hearing with Department of Natural Resources representative Mark Cain has been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the Albany Lion's Club. Cain will be looking for feedback from residents on an incoming CAFO and whether they object to the application or proposed outline for the project.
Jenson shared a panoramic photo taken of the site taken this week, stretching in a 180-degree view over the 127 acres of farmland, soon to be cement, along County FF and Decatur-Sylvester Road in the Township of Sylvester. A retention pond butted up to Decatur-Sylvester Road while equipment drove through flooded tracks in the dirt.
The site, owned by Friedly Bader Farm LLC, was given conditional approval to build the 5,800-cow dairy on April 6 from county staff, but with three attached conditions. Jenson said the facility has met its first condition, but still needs to complete its second.
In phase one, engineers dug a trench and eventually proved it would not collect groundwater at the bottom. Phase two, which Pinnacle engineers are working to complete, requires tile to drain the area meant to hold the four manure storage lagoons. Jenson explained with the help of a drawn diagram how far Pinnacle workers need to go before phase two can be passed.
At the end of July, water was collecting at 750 feet. When county staff inspected the site on Wednesday, it was sitting at 753 feet. To place four-foot tile in the ground along three of the four sides surrounding manure storage structures, water needs to be at 745.53 feet.
"The way the water is sitting out there right now, they would have to raise the pits," Jenson said, indicating that the manure and water mixtures would then need to be pumped over a wall instead of naturally flowing to a retention pond as part of the steps to avoid contaminating nearby water sources.
If that significant change to plans is necessary, the site would require permit changes as well, Jenson said.
A leachate pit planned for the northern side of the facility has been dug 12 feet deep and stretches over "a four-minute walk," Jenson said. Because the builders have not yet put manure storage in place, the facility will ship it to Rock Prairie Dairy, a CAFO owned by Nebraska native Todd Tuls, who also owns Pinnacle.
Some residents have expressed frustration at Pinnacle's construction in the area, citing concerns over groundwater and air quality within the township. During his visit to the site, Jenson said engineers found a number of nails lying on Decatur-Sylvester Road, which garnered an audible groan from each committee member as well as three members of the public still present at the end of the meeting.
A public hearing with Department of Natural Resources representative Mark Cain has been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the Albany Lion's Club. Cain will be looking for feedback from residents on an incoming CAFO and whether they object to the application or proposed outline for the project.