Minutes - Council - 08/11/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ron Alban~-~60!4 - 157th. Lane N.W., Ramsey - stated he has lived in Ramsey for 18 years and last year th!sibad, foul smell arrived. He stated there were horses on that farm before, not pigs and he suggestod~ the~City ask for proof as to how long the hog operation has actually been in business. He stated thg Cit~y has to do something because people may have to sell their houses and may take civic action against the hog farm because of the depreciation of their properties. He added that the residents n.e~ the hog farm can't even enjoy the outdoors any more. He also stated that the City should monitor the hog transfer from Ramsey to Isanti. Karen Kriza], 5501 - 155th Lane N.W., Ramsey - stated there was no problem with the smell until this spring. She added they have a screened in porch that they haven't been able to use and that the smell seern~ ~trOagest after 5:30 p.m. She also stated she can't even garden anymore because of the odor. S~ mentioned that the smell had not been present all the time because they never would have bought !hei~ property that close to a pig farm if the smell had been noticeable. Shelly Kahlsiori, 5759 - 153rd Avenue N.W., Ramsey - stated she lives across from City Hall and she first nofiqed 'the odor last summer. At that time the odor wasn't too bad; however, now it has become unl~6~arable. She added that the owner doesn't even live on the farm. Betty Greenb~erg~ 6032 - 157th Lane N.W., Ramsey - stated she has lived in Ramsey 14 years and did not notice the smell until a year ago last spring. She added that she has never even seen pigs on that farm ind she takes walks back them all the time. She also stated that at the last meeting Mr. Barthold mentioned buying a farm in Isanti and that she feels he is using the residents of Ramsey as hostages :to get his land rezoned. Dave Johnson, [5433 Potassium Street N.W., Ramsey - stated he has lived in Ramsey for 10 years and has neVer smelled hogs except for the last two years. He stated he has nothing against farming but.Wondered what the difference was from two years ago. Jake Barthold stated that he has doubled his amount of hogs. Tom Game¢,il6021 Neon Street N.W., Ramsey - stated he is opposed to the operation because of the smell. Hr stated that according to Bartholds, the hog farm has been in operation for several years. Accoffiing to a 1985 aerial photo, there was nothing on the property, in 1986, still nothing. In 1989, the aeri~il photo showed a house on the property. He stated that obviously this operation was not as t~ilg ormaybe not even operating at all as Mr. Barthold claims. Mr. Gamec stated that most of the~people in the adjoining neighborhoods have lived there approximately 19 years. He added that th, people would not be against the farming operation if the smell could be controlled. He felt that the type of feeding was creating more odor. Vincente Pro¢opio, 15700 St. Francis Boulevard N.W., Ramsey - stated he moved there in 1987 and the farm :Was already there, therefore, the aerial photos should have shown something there prior to 1989; Deb Hill, 5821 - 160th Lane N.W., Ramsey - stated she came to show support for Mr. Barthold. She comment(ed On the "lynch mob mentality" of the crowd at the last meeting. She stated that pigs smell but added that her and her family enjoy eating pork as do a lot of other people and suggested that the peoPlg should respect Mr. Barthold's operation as opposed to trying to shut him down. Patrick Kriza.[, 5501 - 155th Lane N.W., Ramsey - stated he's heard a lot of emotional talk about the family far[n, a,nd whether or not the odor is offensive. He questioned if this is actually a family farm. He st0/red that according to the Minnesota Pork Council and the Iowa Pork Council, this is not a family flkm¢ it's an industry. The land is zoned as a rural agricultural area, not commercial or industrial whi~:h it should be for an operation this size. If the City doesn't allow other nuisances in Public Hearing/City Council/August 11, 1992 Page 2 of 3