County board urges Iowa DNR to reject Millenium Ag expansion

The Winneshiek County Board has unanimously approved a resolution calling on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to reject an expansion permit request by Millenium Ag at 3740 Locust Road.

The company is filing for a permit to build two new buildings on its property--one measuring 81 feet wide by 205 feet long and the other measuring 75 feet wide by 205 feet wide.  Their plans also call for a concrete "deep pit" under each building for manure storage.  The expansion would allow Millenium Ag to raise 4,165 swine per year--just under the limit set by the DNR that requires expansions to be judged by the DNR's master matrix.

The resolution approved by supervisors on Monday cited the karst topography of the area and the nearby coldwater trout stream as reasons to reject the permit application.  It also said supervisors "heard reasonable and credible concerns about adverse effects of the proposed expansion on public health, water and air quality, public recreation, the environment, local property values and the quiet enjoyment of property in Highland Township and Winneshiek County."

The county board has only advisory powers on any permit request, however.  The official decision on whether to grant a permit will be made by the Iowa DNR.