Marathon County committee reviews draft animal-waste ordinance; staff outlines phased timeline and supports for farmers

The Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee on Sept. 30 reviewed draft changes to the county nimal-waste ordinance that would add a $200 winter-spreading permit option, carve out 60-day seasonal spreading limits for medium-sized livestock operations, and require 35-foot vegetative buffers along perennial and intermittent streams. County staff said the proposal is intended to reduce phosphorus runoff while providing education, cost-sharing and a phased implementation timeline.

County conservation staffer Kirsty Heidenreich, the county conservationist, told the committee the proposed ordinance has been developed with input from a farmer work group and outside counsel and that staff plan a series of public meetings and outreach events before any formal vote. "We really have been talking about some of these changes for well over a year now," Heidenreich said. She said the county contracted attorney Jane Lindretti, formerly lead counsel for DATCP, to review the draft because the corporation counsel position is in transition.

The draft's primary changes, as presented by staff, are: a winter-spreading permit (suggested fee $200 covering four years) as an alternative to a…