Agenda - Council - 01/12/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: RE: DATE: Ramsey city Council William K. Goodrich, City Attorney Status of Barthold Pig Farm Nuisance and WMMI Lawsuit January 12, 1993 BARTHOLD PIG FARM As the Council will recall, on August 11, 1992, you directed that legal action be taken, if necessary, in order to abate the pig farm odor nuisance. Subsequent to that time, I have had several conversations with Mr. Barthold, I have met with him on two or three occasions and I have visited the site. In addition, the Council will recall that I spoke with you in October about this issue. Mr. Barthold advised that on or about January 1, 1990, he had about 350 pigs on the site and steadily increased the number to over 700 by August, 1992. The neighbors who testified at the public hearing stated that in general, the odor was not very noticeable until sometime in 1991, and, of'course, throughout all of 1992. Based on the above information, I suggested that perhaps reducing the size of the farm to 300 pigs'would be tolerable. Mr. Barthold reports that the number has now been reduced to 350, 200 of which are the 200/250# size ready for market and 150 are smaller, 75/100# size as feeders. I recently spoke with Dr. Tom Hagerty, Chief Veterinarian for the State of Minnesota, who advised me that even though the number of pigs has been reduced to less than % the number in August, 1992, we cannot reasonably expect a one-half reduction in odor. The i primary reason for this is the build-up of manure which is already there, ~ogether with the fact that this particular operation is run by feeding pigs on the bare ground as opposed to concrete; Feeding pigs on concrete would permit a cleaner less odor operation simply because the manure can be cleaned off of th? concrete in a better manner than from the bare ground. Also, with concrete, standing ater is eliminated. . .. his past ~eek, I have spoken with a.nelghbor who also spoke with nother neighbor. Their ~onsensus. ls that the o~or problem has een reduce~, however, %t is. still present, even with the reduced umber of pigs on the site, and the cold temperatures. _ - hile Mr. Barthold has been cooperative in reducing the pigs to ess than half of their 1992 peak, he.is reluctant to reduce the umber much further or take other actions which would reduce the dot.