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Resident asks commissioners about spray restrictions near planned MIR Ministries ranch for girls
Summary
Ryan Jacobs of Benton County asked commissioners April 30 whether the county has a plan to allow MIR Ministries’ planned girls’ ranch in North Pasco to operate while nearby farmers continue spraying, saying he and Representative April Connors are exploring options.
During public comment April 30, a commenter asked Franklin County commissioners whether the county had a plan to accommodate a planned girls’ ranch while allowing neighboring farmers to continue pesticide spraying.
Ryan Jacobs, who identified himself as a Benton County resident, said MIR Ministries (based in Richland) plans to open a ranch in North Pasco that would house "20 to 30 girls." He asked the commissioners whether county officials have identified a way for the ranch to operate without interfering with nearby farming operations.
"I get it on one hand that we're gonna have 20 to 30 girls at this ranch... at the same time, all the farmers around it... they can't spray anymore because of how many the population of those girls at that ranch," Jacobs said, adding he is working with Representative April Connors to identify options.
Jacobs said he could not recall the exact Revised Code of Washington citation but indicated that state law or regulation may limit spraying near certain sensitive populations. He asked the board to consider whether a solution could be found that protects the girls while allowing farmers to continue their work. The commissioners did not announce a specific plan or policy response during the meeting.
The comment highlights a potential land-use and public-safety accommodation issue between a proposed residential care site and adjacent agricultural operations; any regulatory limits cited by the commenter were not specified at the meeting.
