July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Vote set on CFOs (08/28/06)
Jay County Commissioners
By By MARY ANN LEWIS-
Jay County Commissioners are expected to vote on local proposed regulations regarding confined feeding operations regulations on Sept. 25.
Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer and Faron Parr this morning agreed to take action on the recommendations which were proposed by the Jay Planning Commission in July.
But not without some possible changes.
Miller said he would like to see the regulations require all new residential construction also be included in the regulation concerning notification of intent to build.
"If we don't do it for one we're not gonna do it for the others," Miller said about a regulation requiring all landowners within a one-half mile radius of the proposed livestock operation to be notified of proposed construction.
Concern about the increase in the number of such operations has been expressed for the past few months by residents throughout the county.
This morning commissioners discussed at length with county attorney, Brad Burkett, how the proposed regulations should be worded.
"No matter how you say the rules and regulations, somebody's going to find a loophole," Theurer said.
Burkett explained that commissioners could adopt an ordinance at the Sept. 25 meeting. The proposed ordinance would then go back to the planning commission for its approval or rejection, and commissioners would have the final say at their first meeting after that.
See Vote page 2
Continued from page 1
"It's just some of the crazy rules the state has, and they make us do some crazy stuff," he said, adding that even though the planning commission may reject the proposed change, commissioners could still adopt the new regulations.
"It doesn't go into affect until 45 days after the plan commission approves or rejects it," Burkett told commissioners.
Local rules and regulations governing such operations has been studied for nearly two years. In 2005, a comprehensive study was completed by a committee of local farmers, educators, and others on what local regulations may be needed, but those findings were never adopted by commissioners.
Earlier this year when the concerns again surfaced, the planning commission revisited the proposals and agreed to send them on to commissioners for approval.
During the commissioners meeting last Monday, Indiana Farm Bureau representatives urged them to again wait to see what the state may be doing to help the situation statewide.
But Burkett explained to commissioners it may be up to one and one-half years before the state regulations would go into affect. Commissioners have until Oct. 17 to make a decision on the planning commission's recommendations or the proposals will automatically go into effect without any changes.
Additionally today, meeting as the drainage board, commissioners heard county surveyor Brad Daniels explain that as sewer line construction continues on the south side of West Votaw Street near the new Wal-Mart SuperCenter, a 12-inch storm tile running parallel to a city water line on the south side of the street was discovered.
"Nobody knew it was there," Daniels told the board.
He said the state ordered the line be moved from the north side to the south side of the water line. "They didn't want it under the highway," that is set to be widened, Daniels said.
The line which extends from the west side of the corner of Western Avenue and West Votaw Street to directly across from Industrial Park Drive, will be moved at Wal-Mart's expense, Daniels told the board.
He said the line was found after workers were attempting to replace dirt along the highway shoulder that "wouldn't compact." All the dirt and stone placed in the ditch last week will be removed to allow for the work.
"It's a mess," Daniels said.
Additionally, the board approved having county workers clean out a portion of the Halfway Ditch in Redkey.
Redkey Town Board president, Dottie Quakenbush, told the drainage board that county workers had sprayed the ditch earlier this summer, but brush in a two-block area between Harrison and George streets was creating problems.
Commissioners today also gave CASA de Portland, permission to use an area of the courthouse on Friday, Sept. 15 for the official opening of Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month in the city.
The month is a national celebration of the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries.[[In-content Ad]]
Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer and Faron Parr this morning agreed to take action on the recommendations which were proposed by the Jay Planning Commission in July.
But not without some possible changes.
Miller said he would like to see the regulations require all new residential construction also be included in the regulation concerning notification of intent to build.
"If we don't do it for one we're not gonna do it for the others," Miller said about a regulation requiring all landowners within a one-half mile radius of the proposed livestock operation to be notified of proposed construction.
Concern about the increase in the number of such operations has been expressed for the past few months by residents throughout the county.
This morning commissioners discussed at length with county attorney, Brad Burkett, how the proposed regulations should be worded.
"No matter how you say the rules and regulations, somebody's going to find a loophole," Theurer said.
Burkett explained that commissioners could adopt an ordinance at the Sept. 25 meeting. The proposed ordinance would then go back to the planning commission for its approval or rejection, and commissioners would have the final say at their first meeting after that.
See Vote page 2
Continued from page 1
"It's just some of the crazy rules the state has, and they make us do some crazy stuff," he said, adding that even though the planning commission may reject the proposed change, commissioners could still adopt the new regulations.
"It doesn't go into affect until 45 days after the plan commission approves or rejects it," Burkett told commissioners.
Local rules and regulations governing such operations has been studied for nearly two years. In 2005, a comprehensive study was completed by a committee of local farmers, educators, and others on what local regulations may be needed, but those findings were never adopted by commissioners.
Earlier this year when the concerns again surfaced, the planning commission revisited the proposals and agreed to send them on to commissioners for approval.
During the commissioners meeting last Monday, Indiana Farm Bureau representatives urged them to again wait to see what the state may be doing to help the situation statewide.
But Burkett explained to commissioners it may be up to one and one-half years before the state regulations would go into affect. Commissioners have until Oct. 17 to make a decision on the planning commission's recommendations or the proposals will automatically go into effect without any changes.
Additionally today, meeting as the drainage board, commissioners heard county surveyor Brad Daniels explain that as sewer line construction continues on the south side of West Votaw Street near the new Wal-Mart SuperCenter, a 12-inch storm tile running parallel to a city water line on the south side of the street was discovered.
"Nobody knew it was there," Daniels told the board.
He said the state ordered the line be moved from the north side to the south side of the water line. "They didn't want it under the highway," that is set to be widened, Daniels said.
The line which extends from the west side of the corner of Western Avenue and West Votaw Street to directly across from Industrial Park Drive, will be moved at Wal-Mart's expense, Daniels told the board.
He said the line was found after workers were attempting to replace dirt along the highway shoulder that "wouldn't compact." All the dirt and stone placed in the ditch last week will be removed to allow for the work.
"It's a mess," Daniels said.
Additionally, the board approved having county workers clean out a portion of the Halfway Ditch in Redkey.
Redkey Town Board president, Dottie Quakenbush, told the drainage board that county workers had sprayed the ditch earlier this summer, but brush in a two-block area between Harrison and George streets was creating problems.
Commissioners today also gave CASA de Portland, permission to use an area of the courthouse on Friday, Sept. 15 for the official opening of Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month in the city.
The month is a national celebration of the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries.[[In-content Ad]]
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