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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2016 (55) Resolution No. 55 (2016) � , ��, UNTY RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL STUDY GROUP TO ADDRESS NUTRIENT POLLUTION OF ST. CROIX COUNTY'S - 1 , WATER RESOURCES FROM LARGE LIVESTOCK FACILITIES AND OTHER SOURCES COVER MEMO TO: County Board of Supervisors FROM: Patrick Thompson, County Administrator Cindy Campbell, County Clerk, County Clerk DATE: December 6, 2016 AGENDA ITEM: Resolution Creating a Special Study Group to Address Nutrient Pollution of St. Croix County's Water Resources from Large Livestock Facilities and Other Sources BACKGROUND INFORMATION The St. Croix County Board of Supervisors received a petition at its September 6, 2016 meeting signed by 283 residents of St. Croix County and 3 non-residents. The document petitioned "...the County Board of Supervisors to pass a 2-year moratorium on Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) sitings/expansions until the numerous and well-documented threats to public health and safety can be assessed." County Clerk Cindy Campbell reviewed the petition document and noted that some of the petition pages include the word "expansions" and some do not. The Community Development Committee, in response, has forwarded an Ordinance creating a Moratorium on the establishment or expansion of large livestock facilities. Resolution No. 55 (2016) � , ��, UNTY RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL STUDY GROUP TO "� r��," � ADDRESS NUTRIENT POLLUTION OF ST. CROIX COUNTY'S - 1 , WATER RESOURCES FROM LARGE LIVESTOCK FACILITIES AND OTHER SOURCES 1 WHEREAS, Wisconsin Statutes §59.69 authorizes the County Board of Supervisors to 2 adopt regulations to promote public health, safety and general welfare; and 3 4 WHEREAS, St. Croix County residents and property owners have expressed concerns 5 about the importance of preserving the quality of life, environment and existing-small scale 6 livestock and other agricultural operations of St. Croix County and the siting of large-scale 7 livestock facilities in St. Croix County; and 8 9 WHEREAS, St. Croix County's comprehensive plan dated November 5, 2012 includes 10 the following objectives: 11 12 1. Encourage the conservation of ground water and surface water quality and quantity. 13 14 2. Encourage and promote farming and forestry operations to follow best management 15 practices and maintain strong stewardship principles. 16 17 3. Maintain and strengthen a farm operator's right to farm using accepted practices that 18 do not threaten public health or safety. 19 20 4. Protect, enhance and restore ground water and surface water quality and quantity to 21 supply clean drinking water,preserve ecological functions and provide recreational 22 opportunities. 23 24 5. Prevent the spread of pathogens and parasites and other contaminates that cause risk 25 to human or animal health; and 26 27 WHEREAS, the St. Croix County Land and Water Resources Management Plan exists to 28 promote sustainable land use management for long term conservation of land, water and other 29 natural resources; and 30 31 WHEREAS, there is a need for adequate time to determine whether amendments to 32 the St. Croix County zoning ordinance, creation of a livestock facility's licensing ordinance, or 33 creation of a livestock operating ordinance, zoning revisions or other remedies are necessary to 34 adequately protect public health, welfare and safety. 35 36 NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors hereby 37 creates a special study group to address nutrient pollution of St. Croix County's water resources 38 from Large Livestock Facilities and other sources, and that the committee be appointed by the 39 County Board Chair. 40 41 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the scope of scope of the study and the 42 composition of the committee, be approved by the County Board of Supervisors in its January 43 2017 meeting. 44 45 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the committee shall report back to the County 46 Board of Supervisors within six months and, if necessary, the County Board of Supervisor may 47 grant an additional 90 days to complete the study. 48 49 (Clerk's note: This resolution replaces the proposed ordinance creating Chapter 22 - 50 Moratorium on the Establishment or Expansion of Large Livestock Facilities - of the St. Croix 51 County Code of Ordinances) Legal—Fiscal—Administrative Approvals: Legal Note: Fiscal Impact: Vote Confirmation. SL Croix County Board of Supervisors Action: Roll Call -Vote Requirement— Majority of Supervisors Present ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................. RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [15 TO 4] MOVER: Agnes Ring, Supervisor SECONDER: Ron Kiesler, Supervisor AYES: Sicard, Ring, Coulter, Sjoberg, Long, Bergren, Ostness, Larson, Hansen, Brinkman, Peterson, Anderson, Achterhof, Leibfried, Peavey NAYS: Christopher Babbitt, Scott Nelson, Jill Ann Berke, Ron Kiesler This Resolution was Adopted as Amended by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on December 6, 2016 Cindy Campbell, County Clerk