Hog Farm Not Welcome By Walshville Neighbors
by Joyce Burch
Two neighbors of a proposed hog confinement facility in Walshville Township addressed the Montgomery County Board Tuesday morning. They're not happy.
Larry Marburger and Sam Pastrovich live in Sections 9 and 10 west of Walshville, and Ryer Pork Production, owned by "two young men from Litchfield," want to build a 100 by 300 hog confinement facility on 200 acres, said Marburger.
The property is owned by Mansholt Farms. Marburger said annual production would be 4200 hogs.
The owners would not live on-site, he said, and they have financial support from a Mr. Maschoff of Carlyle. A similar project was "shooed out of the south edge of Litchfield" last winter, noted board member Ron Deabenderfer.
He chairs the Economic Development Committee, which invited Marburger and Pastrovich to present their case Tuesday morning.
"Everyone in our community is against it," said Marburger, who spoke bluntly about shared concerns of odor and air pollution, road and land value degradations, and fears about the water table.
Marburger said eight neighboring families depend on wells, with no other water source. He said the hog facility's water demands will "suck our wells dry."
Pastrovich said neither he nor Marburger received much notice of Ryer's intentions; in the brief hours he's spared from harvest he has contacted IEPA and legislators, and met with Maschoff.
Board chairman, Mike Plunkett, said locations of such confinement operations are the sole decision of the state agriculture department.
The opportunity for public comment is brief, he said. A non-binding public hearing must be requested within 30 days of the county's receipt of a notice from the facility promoters.
Plunkett promised to keep Pastrovich and Marburger informed.
The third speaker at Tuesday's meeting was Heather Hampton-Knodle, invited by Deabenderfer's committee to describe the County Economic Summit on Oct. 29 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Taylor Springs.
She also spent about 15 minutes talking about the accomplishments and goals of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, which was founded in January 2005.
Deabenderfer told the board that the county now owns clear title to the abandoned rail line property between Butler and Hillsboro. He said Butler will seek easement rights for a sewer line to the Hillsboro treatment plant.
The larger city has already agreed to treat Butler's wastewater if transmission lines can reach the plant, located off the former rail line east of the North Road.
A public hearing will be held on Nov. 5 to address the proposed expansion of the county Enterprise Zone to incorporate the planned Deer Run Mine in East Fork Township.
The Finance Committee got board authority to transfer all rights for two lots in Ohlman to the village, where a new meeting hall has been built on adjacent property.
The board approved the Real Estate Tax Levy/Extension Summary for 2009, in the amount of $3,771,674. That is an increase over fiscal 2008 of $178,630.
Finance chairman, William Sielschott, reviewed minor alterations in the annual budget, which shows projected revenues of $19,993,828, and expenses of $23,121,835. The document will be approved next month.
Chairman Bob Durbin of the HWE Committee gave a progress report on the rebuilt Litchfield Recycling Center, where a re-opening ceremony will take place on Nov. 15.
Mary Bathurst relayed community concerns about security and the need for better lighting. Durbin assured her that the new structure will be a big improvement over the former facility, which was destroyed by fire.
Chairman Plunkett noted that the replacement drop-off site and warehouse have a more prominent location near passing traffic, which should reduce the temptation for vandals.
Durbin announced plans for an electronic recycling drive next March. Working with EWaste Solutions, the county's only expense will be labor.
The county will pay an additional $2,781 in premiums next year for property casualty and workers' compensation insurance; the total approved was $323,710.
Plunkett noted that the property and casualty premiums went down, although the county has filed claims in the past two years in excess of $430,000. The increase was in workers' comp premiums.
Several road and bridge resolutions were necessary to repair culvert damage during heavy downpours in mid-September. The board approved the following resolutions:
To appropriate $11,966 for a culvert half a mile north of Oak Grove, Irving Road District (county share $5,983);
To appropriate $5,842 for a culvert on Oil Field Trail, Raymond Road District (county share $2,921);
To appropriate $8,746 for a culvert on Ryce Trail, Irving Road District (county share $4,373).
Piling repairs have been made at several sites. The county-owned Walton Lake Bridge over the City of Litchfield dam and spillway remains closed while officials work out a three-phase plan to reconstruct the dam, spillway and bridge to meet current standards.
The county approved preliminary engineering agreements for Fillmore Trail improvements over the East Fork Shoal Creek, with a letting projected in November 2009; and a Nokomis Road improvement over Hurricane Creek and a November 2010 letting.
Chairman John Downs of the Personnel Committee announced the Finance Committee's decision to make the county's entry level starting salary $17,750. The wage will be reviewed annually.
Terry Bone, who chairs the Building & Grounds Committee, said a new $4,000 line item in the GIS budget will pay a monthly $250 rent plus telephone and fax fees for the GIS staff, which has been sharing crowded quarters in the former basement women's restroom at the Historic Courthouse.
The Montgomery County Farm Bureau will provide a two-room upstairs unit facing the Square, plus an occasional use space on the ground floor if any handicapped person requires access.
During review of the consent agenda of reports by public officials, County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser reminded everyone that early voting began Tuesday and new signage required by law marks the courthouse as one of the polling places.
She said there have been 958 new voter registrations, which should mean an increase in participation on Election Day Nov. 4.
Chairman Plunkett concluded the 90-minute meeting by getting board approval to appoint Katrina Boliard Fillmore Fire Protection District secretary/treasurer; she is filling a vacancy.
The chairman also reminded members that the next full board meeting will be held on a Wednesday, Nov. 12, because Tuesday next month is Veterans Day. That's a holiday for county, state and federal workers.
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