The Greene County Supervisors will hold their second consecutive hog confinement public hearing at next week’s meeting.

One was held at this week’s meeting for a Certified Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) for S & A Partners.  They wanted to build three structures for 7,488 head of hogs in Section 25 of Paton Township.  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Master Matrix score was 480.  The minimum amount required by the DNR to approve a project is 440.  According to Greene County Assessor Linda Spearman, as of 2014, there are 140 CAFO’s in the county, with six in Paton Township and two in Franklin Township.

Because the ultimate decision is made by the DNR, Chair John Muir says the matrix process is still a good program to follow.

“That’s what requires us to have public hearings.  Otherwise, if you aren’t involved in that, (then) there’s a manure plan and you build a building and there’s no opportunity for the public to express their concerns or their support.”

The Supervisors approved their recommendation to the DNR for final approval of the hog confinement.  At next week’s meeting will be another public hearing for a hog expansion for Davis Hog and Grain in Section 23 of Franklin Township.  The addition of one building would bring the total head of hog to 4,900.  The matrix scoring was right at the minimum of 440.

Muir believes the matrix needs to be reviewed, due to some of the requirements not being applicable to different areas of the state.

The public hearing on the hog expansion is at 9am on Monday in the boardroom of the courthouse.