Officials endorse denial of hog farm use permit
By RENEE WELLS South Idaho Press
BURLEY - Big River Country isn't going to be the home of Big Sky Farms.
Not without a judge's say-so anyway.
Cassia County Commissioners upheld the decision of the county's planning and zoning commission Monday, denying Big Sky Farms' conditional use permit application appeal.
With only two commissioners deliberating, the commission cited a number of the standards in upholding the P&Z board's decision, and said Big Sky Farms promoter Ron Achs has taken a reactive, rather than proactive approach in his plan to build a 50,000 sow farrow-to-finish hog operation in Raft River.
Only commissioners Paul Christensen and Dennis Crane deliberated on the fate of the hog farm. A letter from Big Sky's attorney, Donald Knickrehm, voiced concerns about a statement Commissioner Shirley Povlsen made some time ago, concerning her opposition to the plan.
To an audience of about 16 people, Povlsen said she didn't remember making any derogatory remarks about Achs' plan, but in order to prevent a conflict situation, she would abstain from the deliberations.
It took the commissioners slightly more than one hour to go through the 10 standards used in determining special use permits. During those deliberations, Christensen and Crane cited a number of issues which they felt upheld the decision made by Cassia's Planning and Zoning board earlier this year to deny the application.
Christensen noted that the plan, which would result in 964 acres of buildings and ponds being constructed on slightly more than 1700 acres of ground, considering setbacks, would result in a concentration that was unparalleled at any of the hog farm sites commissioners visited.
He also noted that while promoters said there had been like technology used in other areas of the country, nowhere has there been the exact technology applied in an operation like Big Sky's proposal.
Christensen said that while many promoters have asked that the county allow the corporation to "try it on a smaller basis," Big Sky Farms has applied for a permit to construct an operation that will house in excess of a half million hogs annually.
He said that trying the plan on a smaller basis would show nothing, because the first sludge wouldn't be coming out of the ponds for five years, and Achs has no intention of waiting five years to be given the go-ahead on his plan.
Crane noted that noise issues were not included in the application and they were not ever resolved throughout any of the proceedings.
Attorney Jerry Mason said he felt particular attention should be paid to the testimony of a Kathy Martin, who during the P&Z hearing, pointed our numerous problems that would likely exist in an operation of this magnitude. Martin, an engineer who has studied hog farming and researched the environmental impacts, cited numerous issues that could pose serious threats to the Raft River community.
Christensen said he was uneasy with the methods used by Big Sky Farms to promote their plan.
"It's bothersome to me that (Achs) would buy 5,000 acres of ground then come to the commission and want to know what he can do with his land," Christensen said.
Crane pointed out that while many of the issues surrounding the impacts Big Sky would have on services in the Raft River community were discussed, Achs made no attempt to resolve any of the issues prior to submission of his plan.
"I believe (the standard which addresses public service to the site) could be met, but there was never an attempt to check with Raft River Highway District or Raft River Fire District about what would need to be done," Crane said. "Agreeing to work with a district isn't the same as coming up with the funds needed, or with a plan to actually cooperate with them."
Attorneys for the county, Jerry Mason and Will Harrington, were instructed to draw up a written version of the decision deliberated on Monday, to present to Big Sky and its legal counsel.
Big Sky CEO Ron Achs was not taking calls, following the decision, and he could not be reached this morning.
Promoter Claire Bosen said he really didn't have anything to say until the corporation's attorneys have the opportunity to look over the decision.