MPCA notified of proposed 2,400‑head finishing hog feedlot in Neibish Township

County staff notified the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners that an application has been filed with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for a new livestock feedlot in Neibish Township.

Brent, a county staff member, read the MPCA notice on the record, saying the applicant "Wiegman number 1 has made application to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for a permit to construct a feedlot with a capacity of 500 animal units or more." The notice states the proposed feedlot is at 3129 Lumberjack Road Northwest in Section 30, Township 150, Range 33, Beltrami County, and would consist of 2,400 finishing pigs in a tunnel barn with concrete pit manure storage beneath a slatted floor. Brent provided the animal-unit conversion listed in the notice: 2,400 finishing pigs equates to approximately 720 animal units.

Brent emphasized this agenda item was informational: "This is an agenda item that doesn't need any discussion, it doesn't need any approval or denial or any opinion of any sorts from the county board." He said the MPCA requires that the county board be notified as part of the state's permitting process and that notification may reach local residents who might be interested. Brent said the applicant was present in the meeting room and additional technical questions should be directed to the MPCA or the applicant.

No county decision, endorsement or denial was made during the session. Commissioners did not take formal action on the permit notice; Brent invited any questions but none were raised at the meeting. The item was recorded as a notification to the board per Minnesota Statutes and MPCA procedures.