The Greene County Board of Supervisors met Monday in regular session.
During reports, it was mentioned that the top three Ring Out for Art sculptures would be delivered to the Greene County Courthouse grounds on May 9th. County Attorney Thomas Laehn also updated the Board. He said there are 88 pending criminal cases that are indictable, which was higher than the monthly average of 70-75 cases.
The Board then reviewed master matrix scores for two separate hog confinement projects. The first one is in section 32 of Highland Township for Stumpf Finishers. The matrix score was 460 and the minimum score that is required by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is 440. The project is to build two new hog finishing buildings for a total of 4,995 hogs. Owner Todd Stumpf said he sent letters out to neighbors last week with his contact information on it and has not received any communication in return. Stumpf said he would hire a local person to help run the facility, along with himself. The matrix included a closure, emergency action and worker safety plans. However, no points were taken from landscaping. Stumpf is contracting with Seaboard Triumph Foods and a question was asked that if there have been plant closures with Seaboard, will there be concern of processing more hogs. Stumpf said if he isn’t offered a contract with Seaboard, then the hog buildings will not be built.
The second matrix review was for Austin and Jolee Saddoris in section two of South Junction Township. The proposal is for two hog buildings for a total of 2,496 hogs and it had a matrix score of 465. Co-owner Austin said he has contacted all of the neighbors and there were no overall concerns with the project. The matrix included a closure, emergency action and worker safety plans.
Following the reviews, both public hearings will take place next Monday, April 27th with the Stumpf hearing at 9am and Saddoris at 9:30.
Additionally, the Board approved a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan with Carroll, Crawford and Sac counties as presented and held a discussion on a proposal from Pocahontas and Palo Alto counties regarding the North Raccoon River Watershed management plan. Both counties are requesting support of a resolution that they passed not supporting those counties that are not part of the North Raccoon River Watershed Management Coalition, rather create a division between the North Raccoon River, and the Middle and South Raccoon rivers. The Board wanted to further monitor the situation before making a final decision.