Minutes - Council - 07/23/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA The Ramsey City Council conducted a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 23, 1991 at the Ram~ey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard N.W., Ramsey, Minnesota 55303. Members Present: Mayor James Gilbertson Councilmernber Sheila Beyer Councilmember Richard Cich Councilmember Glen Hardin Councilmember Kenneth Peterson Also Present: City Administrator Ryan Schroeder City Engineer Steve Jankowski Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik City Attorney William Goodrich CALL TO ORDER Mayor Gilbertson called the regular City Council meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. CITIZEN INPUT Dave Johnson, 15433 Potassium Street N.W., Ramsey - stated he had a petitioa from surrounding residents regarding the odor from the pig farm located on Highway #47. He gave the petition to Mayor Gilbertson. Mayor Gilbertson stated that the owner (Mr. Barthold) of the pig farm has 55 acres and his property is zoned agricultural. Mr. Barthold is doing everything within the City Code including having a State permit for using recycled food as feed for the pigs. He stated the City can have the odor factor checked out by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Mr. Johnson argued that it shouldn't matter if Mr. Barthold is complying with City Code as the odor is a nuisance and according to the ordinance, something should be done about it. Ms. Frolik reported that she had spoken with the MPCA this afternoon and was told that agriculture operations are exempt from odor control. She stated their enforcement division would get back to her with the State Statute regarding this issue. Mr. Goodrich stated that the City's ordinance is the same as the State Statute and the one that exempts agriculture fi'om odor control is MSA 560.19. Mr. Barthold, owner of the pig farm stated that the farm has been in existence for 25 years and that the pigs have been there the whole time. He stated that the odor is only noticeable on the days the wind is blowing from a certain direction. He explained there is no storage of manure and that he has also gotten rid of some of the bigger pigs which should reduce the odor. He also stated that he feels part of the problem with Mr. Johnson is a retaliation thing as there has been a problem with his children being on Mr. Barthold's property. He added that the Council zoned the land agriculture and he feels the land is being put to its best use right now. He also stated he would do what he could to reduce the odor. City Council/July 23, 1991 Page 3 of 10