Board approves conditional-use permit for Tier-2 poultry barns with two conditions

The Board of Commissioners voted to approve a conditional-use permit on Aug. 26 to expand a Tier-2 livestock operation owned by Dennis, Ann and Jacob Toma to include two poultry barns. Cole, the county financial and land services director, told the board the planning commission recommended approval with two conditions: the property owner must consult the county feedlot officer to identify suitable soils for manure stockpiling, and the owner must maintain a 50-foot-wide permanent vegetative buffer around poultry pens. During the hearing commissioners described the application as complete and appropriate for the site. Commissioner Winter said the application was one of the "best" he had seen for land-services review. A motion to approve carried; the board did not add conditions beyond the planning commission27s two requirements.