|
Animal Waste
Resolution |
|
July 9,
2010
TO: All Town Officials in Door County
RE: Addressing Animal Waste Issues.
In view of the substantial increase in large animal waste transportation vehicles and weight that is far in excess of the capabilities of existing town roads, it has become evident that some changes need to be made in the administration of maintenance costs.
As most of the large trucking operations originate in locations other than the local town some provisions need to be in place to recapture the real maintenance costs. It is unfair to burden the town taxpayers with the entire cost of road repair caused by excessive weight and heavy traffic that can be traced to a source not within the town or county.
The odor nuisance and on-going complaints from residents can best be addressed by compliance with a local ordinance requiring incorporation of animal waste within a minimum reasonable specified time period, subject to penalty, with exceptions only allowed in emergency situations. Presently, there is no real enforcement of the time specified and complaints are the only recourse after-the-fact. The local landowner has ultimate control over odor control practices that are used on his property along with being aware of spreading recommended rates. The odor associated with actual transport of animal waste presently is not being addressed at all, again subject to complaint after-the-fact about leaking trucks and spills.
Several counties in Wisconsin have recently supported legal efforts within their specific areas to encourage small farm operations to continue to exist and maintain the traditional rural agricultural atmosphere that is desired within their counties. Door and Kewaunee counties are not among that group.
To resolve or minimize some of these interconnected problems, the responsibility by default falls on the local government entity, not to belittle the County efforts, but it remains that only local control will bring about actual resolution of these difficult issues.
To that end, we would suggest that all Towns secure village powers, if they have not already done so, to enable the Town Boards to create ordinances and the ability to enforce them, to gain some degree of control over the activities that will end up as an increasing local problem.
For the Board of Directors’
Jerome M Viste, Executive Director, Door County Environmental Council, Inc.
www.dcec-wi.org
dcec@itol.com
TO: All Town Officials in Door County
RE: Addressing Animal Waste Issues.
In view of the substantial increase in large animal waste transportation vehicles and weight that is far in excess of the capabilities of existing town roads, it has become evident that some changes need to be made in the administration of maintenance costs.
As most of the large trucking operations originate in locations other than the local town some provisions need to be in place to recapture the real maintenance costs. It is unfair to burden the town taxpayers with the entire cost of road repair caused by excessive weight and heavy traffic that can be traced to a source not within the town or county.
The odor nuisance and on-going complaints from residents can best be addressed by compliance with a local ordinance requiring incorporation of animal waste within a minimum reasonable specified time period, subject to penalty, with exceptions only allowed in emergency situations. Presently, there is no real enforcement of the time specified and complaints are the only recourse after-the-fact. The local landowner has ultimate control over odor control practices that are used on his property along with being aware of spreading recommended rates. The odor associated with actual transport of animal waste presently is not being addressed at all, again subject to complaint after-the-fact about leaking trucks and spills.
Several counties in Wisconsin have recently supported legal efforts within their specific areas to encourage small farm operations to continue to exist and maintain the traditional rural agricultural atmosphere that is desired within their counties. Door and Kewaunee counties are not among that group.
To resolve or minimize some of these interconnected problems, the responsibility by default falls on the local government entity, not to belittle the County efforts, but it remains that only local control will bring about actual resolution of these difficult issues.
To that end, we would suggest that all Towns secure village powers, if they have not already done so, to enable the Town Boards to create ordinances and the ability to enforce them, to gain some degree of control over the activities that will end up as an increasing local problem.
For the Board of Directors’
Jerome M Viste, Executive Director, Door County Environmental Council, Inc.
www.dcec-wi.org
dcec@itol.com
********************************************************
ANIMAL WASTE RESOLUTION
SUBJECT: Present and future problems with animal waste spreading and animal waste odor control
PRESENTED BY: Door County Environmental Council, Inc. a Wisconsin Non-profit Corporation established in 1970 under Wisconsin law.
WHEREAS: Officials and the public now recognize the limitations of the shallow
Karst geology of our area of Wisconsin, and because of those limitations demand
that extra care must be exercised in the disposition of animal waste, and
WHEREAS: The Best Management Practices and Nutrient Management Programs that are the voluntary regulations in place to determine spreading rates on suitable farm lands have no enforcement tools to ensure actual compliance, and
WHEREAS: There is increasing demand for locations on farmland for spreading of animal waste from dairy and cattle operations, contributing to inflated prices for suitable farm land. These inflated land rent contracts are creating a difficult competitive situation for existing small farm operators and loss of income from rental lands, and
WHEREAS: Presently there is no compensation for towns experiencing the road damage caused by hauling of non-perishable animal waste on their particular town roads, leaving these towns to pay the entire maintenance cost with no subsidy furnished by the non-resident users, and
WHEREAS: Animal waste odors have become dominant problems during specific times of the year when deadlines have to be met, regardless of the effect on established residences or utilization of outdoor recreation, diminishing the clean air rights of non-farm and other farm property owners.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Door County Environmental Council Board of Directors urges the following:
1. Enacting by local ordinance
specific rules governing weight and load restrictions on town roads
unsuitable for heavy–loaded vehicle traffic, subject to special permit
requirements and user fees to cover maintenance costs.
2. Prior to spreading towns must be furnished in advance with anticipated animal waste spreading plans and followed up with documented rates contained in a report immediately after spreading has occurred.
3. Liquid animal waste spreading should coincide with complete incorporation of waste into suitable soil within a specified reasonable time, to be determined by the town and subject to penalty for non-compliance.
2. Prior to spreading towns must be furnished in advance with anticipated animal waste spreading plans and followed up with documented rates contained in a report immediately after spreading has occurred.
3. Liquid animal waste spreading should coincide with complete incorporation of waste into suitable soil within a specified reasonable time, to be determined by the town and subject to penalty for non-compliance.
This resolution and recommendations adopted by the Board of Directors of the Door County Environmental Council, Inc., unanimously on June 27, 2010 in regular session.
Door County
Environmental Council
P O Box 114, Fish Creek WI
54212
Phone: 920-743-6003 | FAX: 920-743-6727
Info@dcec-wi.org
