(Spirit Lake)– A public hearing on a manure management plan filed by Rick Fallon on behalf of the Fallon Cattle Company drew no opposition at Tuesday’s Dickinson county board of supervisors meeting.
The plan is for a 990 head cattle operation in section 28 of Westport Township in southwest Dickinson county.
Public hearings on manure management plans aren’t required by the state. It’s a policy Dickinson county implemented on its own to better make citizens aware of such applications. Supervisors can opt to take no action, or to send a letter either urging the DNR to either approve or deny the application. The final action rests solely with that agency. The supervisors Tuesday opted to take no action regarding the Fallon application.
However, supervisor Mardi Allen said she wants the county to come up with some standard information such as drainage, soil types and feelings of neighbors. Allen says she wants that information so decisions on whether or not to send letters are made fairly.
David Kolhaase, the county’s Zoning Commissioner, said such information could be compiled, but he says the final say over those issues will still be between the DNR and the applicant.
