The county supervisors will hold a public hearing Monday, March 5, on a construction permit for a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) that scored 450 points on the master matrix, only 10 points more than needed for approval.
The supervisors reviewed the master matrix for Oakview Pork LLC at their Feb. 26 meeting. The CAFO would be located in Section 26 of Greenbrier Township. Signatories on the application are Megan Carman and Nick Miller, but by all appearances it will be Megan’s husband Andy Carman who will be in business with Miller.
Andy Carman, Miller, and Becky Sexton of Twin Lakes Environmental were at the Monday meeting. Sexton helped complete the master matrix. She said there are points they could have taken but didn’t because it wouldn’t increase the effectiveness of the operation. She said they plan eventually to plant trees but took no points for landscaping. Other CAFO operators have done the same, saying they don’t want to be committed to a particular landscape design.
Unlike other matrices, Oakview Pork didn’t take points for injecting manure, even though injection is included in the manure management plan. The master matrix also didn’t take points for having an emergency plan. According to Sextion, because Oakview hasn’t yet hired the person who will work at the CAFO, it would be a “waste of time” to write the emergency plan.
Board chair John Muir commented that “10 points isn’t a lot of points for a cushion.”
Oakview Pork would have two buildings, each with a 4,980-head capacity. Annual production would be 11,454 hogs.
Dennis Hendricks, who lives adjacent to the field in the manure management plan, asked how far that is from his property. Muir told him that would be a conversation for the public hearing, but Hendricks persisted.
The buildings are 3,800 feet from Hendricks’ home, but the distance from the field to his home wasn’t available. Muir said that measurement wouldn’t affect the master matrix score, “but it’s a distance we should all be aware of.”
Sexton said she would provide that information later this week.
The public hearing on Oakview Pork LLC is scheduled for next Monday at 9:15 am.
The supervisors also discussed with Scott Weber, an agent for Unger Insurance, submitting requests for proposals for the county’s insurance business.
Weber has been in Greene County for four years. He approached Muir about how the county selects its agent.
The county has used ICAP and IMWC for liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Weber said he agreed with that choice, but said there should be a process to let other agents review the policies to see if there are products the county should have but doesn’t, or that the county has but doesn’t need.
Weber suggested setting up an insurance review committee that would periodically interview potential agents and then make a recommendation to the full board.
“As a public entity it’s our obligation to look at everything we can,” Muir said, although the board took no action.
MacDonald Insurance has been the county’s agent since 1992.
Sheriff Jack Williams reported that the new courthouse security committee discussed holding optional training sessions for courthouse employees about dealing with an active shooter. There would be no cost to the county, as Williams is certified to teach active shooter classes.
The board asked Williams to plan to provide the classes.
