From Patricia Skogen
Monroe
Wednesday evening, the Green County Board of Adjustment, under Chair Ted Fahey, District 26 supervisor and the only county supervisor on the board, broke with local control tradition and decided to allow the county to issue zoning permits for the Pinnacle Dairy development without an approved township driveway permit. This allows Friedly-Bader Farm, LLC and Pinnacle Land Holdings, LLC to go above the heads of the elected Sylvester Town Board and potentially circumvent the town's Smart Growth Plan. Trying to serve the public interest through thorough research, Sylvester is currently working with an engineer and an attorney to craft a driveway permit with reasonable conditions such as asking the factory dairy to improve Decatur-Sylvester Road before bringing in construction, milk-hauling and manure-spraying equipment. Pinnacle Dairy has not yet purchased the land, nor completed the Sylvester Livestock Siting Ordinance application - both of which the town requests for a driveway permit.
Betraying promises to be "good neighbors," the Tuls/Bader, LLCs spoke through one of many lawyers to whine about delays in the driveway permitting process and the "hardship" they have endured. The lawyer dominated the meeting, yet failed to mention the LLCs' refusal to comply with town requests - proving again that the Tuls/Bader corporations consider it appropriate steamroll anyone in their way.
They found a willing accomplice in the Board of Adjustment, and, most notably, the chair, who was dismissive and disrespectful of the three elected Sylvester supervisors. The Board of Adjustment members - who are not elected, but appointed by County Board Chairman Art Carter - did not question the lawyer, and showed ignorance of the complexities of this case.
While guidelines for public comment were given at the start of the public hearing, and a roll-call taken of neighbors who were notified - Fahey changed procedure and disallowed public comment. Over 50 frustrated Sylvester neighbors, residents and farmers were in attendance, and denied the opportunity to weigh in on the decision to fast-track the Pinnacle project. Many plan to attend the Aug. 8 County Board meeting to encourage supervisors to pass a Livestock Siting Moratorium.
In December, county board supervisor candidates will be circulating nomination papers for the April election. Citizens should consider replacing supervisors that aren't willing to listen to the public, do the homework, and make the hard choices necessary to do the task.
Monroe
Wednesday evening, the Green County Board of Adjustment, under Chair Ted Fahey, District 26 supervisor and the only county supervisor on the board, broke with local control tradition and decided to allow the county to issue zoning permits for the Pinnacle Dairy development without an approved township driveway permit. This allows Friedly-Bader Farm, LLC and Pinnacle Land Holdings, LLC to go above the heads of the elected Sylvester Town Board and potentially circumvent the town's Smart Growth Plan. Trying to serve the public interest through thorough research, Sylvester is currently working with an engineer and an attorney to craft a driveway permit with reasonable conditions such as asking the factory dairy to improve Decatur-Sylvester Road before bringing in construction, milk-hauling and manure-spraying equipment. Pinnacle Dairy has not yet purchased the land, nor completed the Sylvester Livestock Siting Ordinance application - both of which the town requests for a driveway permit.
Betraying promises to be "good neighbors," the Tuls/Bader, LLCs spoke through one of many lawyers to whine about delays in the driveway permitting process and the "hardship" they have endured. The lawyer dominated the meeting, yet failed to mention the LLCs' refusal to comply with town requests - proving again that the Tuls/Bader corporations consider it appropriate steamroll anyone in their way.
They found a willing accomplice in the Board of Adjustment, and, most notably, the chair, who was dismissive and disrespectful of the three elected Sylvester supervisors. The Board of Adjustment members - who are not elected, but appointed by County Board Chairman Art Carter - did not question the lawyer, and showed ignorance of the complexities of this case.
While guidelines for public comment were given at the start of the public hearing, and a roll-call taken of neighbors who were notified - Fahey changed procedure and disallowed public comment. Over 50 frustrated Sylvester neighbors, residents and farmers were in attendance, and denied the opportunity to weigh in on the decision to fast-track the Pinnacle project. Many plan to attend the Aug. 8 County Board meeting to encourage supervisors to pass a Livestock Siting Moratorium.
In December, county board supervisor candidates will be circulating nomination papers for the April election. Citizens should consider replacing supervisors that aren't willing to listen to the public, do the homework, and make the hard choices necessary to do the task.
