County approves expansion of feedlot permit with conditions after water and airport concerns raised

The Todd County Board on July 1 approved a conditional use permit (CUP) to expand an existing feedlot from 960 to 992 animal units on parcels in Burchell Township, subject to multiple conditions intended to address noncompliance, water appropriation and manure storage.

Planning staff summarized the proposal: the application sought to expand an existing operation on parcels 030018600 and 030018602 in Burchell Township and was reviewed by the county planning commission at a June 5 public hearing. The planning commission recommended approval with conditions; the board adopted those planning‑commission findings and approved the CUP after adding a clarification requiring county inspection before additional animal units are stocked.

Conditions adopted by the board include (summarized): - issuance of an interim permit from the county feedlot program and correction of existing noncompliance; completion of those steps and a county inspection must be done before stocking additional animal units; - any expansion of liquid manure storage must provide not less than 12 months of storage if new storage is built; - air quality exemption notices must be provided to Todd County before future MIRR application events (MIRR referenced in planning documents); - the applicant must immediately notify the county and the Minnesota Duty Officer in the event of a manure spill or other discharge; - open lots north of “component 3” will remain unused until further permitting is acquired; and - construction permits will be issued only after the Minnesota DNR confirms the livestock appropriation permit has been updated or otherwise covers the proposed change.

Planning staff also reported new information from a DNR hydrologist, Mark Anderson: the operation’s existing water appropriations authorization was originally issued under the general livestock permit; a request was filed to convert the authorization to an individual permit that would allow up to 7,000,000 gallons per year (while keeping the same maximum pump rate). That conversion triggers DNR’s 30‑day public‑comment requirement, and DNR permitting will not be completed before the board’s meeting; staff said they did not foresee a problem with the DNR amendment but noted the comment period would take time.

Board discussion included questions about drain tiles and runoff. Planning and feedlot program staff said lots previously used to move runoff have been restricted in this approval (those lots north of component 3 remain non‑use) and that using them would create noncompliance and require additional permitting. County legal counsel noted a separate legal concern raised earlier in the meeting about potential airport proximity and liability for other planning items; that airport issue prompted the board to table a separate rezoning item earlier on the agenda to seek airport‑commission input.

The CUP motion passed by roll call after a motion and second.