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Board approves Scotch Prairie Farms expansion to 4,129 animal units, adds dust‑control road stipulation
Summary
The county approved an amendment to increase feedlot capacity to 4,129 animal units and added a condition requiring dust control (chloride application) on a township road segment from County Road 4 to 500 feet beyond a specified parcel entrance.
On June 3 the Wabasha County Board approved an amendment to the conditional use permit for Scotch Prairie Farms LLC to expand feedlot capacity on parcel R16.00061.00. The planning commission had recommended approval 5–0 with conditions including MPCA compliance, furnishing MPCA/NPDES stormwater permits to the county, and limiting the total animal units to 4,129.2 AU.
Neighbors had expressed concern about additional truck traffic and dust on County Road 661 (a township road) linked to increased feed and manure transport. At the meeting, county staff and commissioners discussed a proposed additional condition to require dust control measures on a portion of the township road. The board added a stipulation requiring chloriding (a common dust-control practice) for the stretch of township road from County Road 4 to 500 feet beyond the second parcel entrance near the facility. County staff indicated a typical chloride application for a road segment can cost roughly $2,400, and in heavy‑traffic situations a second application later in the season may be necessary.
Commissioners and staff said the county has authority to require road treatments on township roads when operations create off‑site impacts; the board placed the chloride requirement in the CUP amendment to address resident dust complaints. The motion to approve the amendment including the dust‑control condition was made by Commissioner Powers and seconded by Commissioner Waches; the motion carried.
Key conditions attached by the planning commission and the board include: limiting animal units to 4,129.2 AU; providing MPCA/NPDES permits and a feedlot registration to the county; complying with MPCA rules for construction and operation; and the added road‑dust mitigation requirement. County staff said any future expansion of animal units or additional manure storage would require a further amendment to the CUP.
Next steps: The applicant must furnish copies of MPCA/NPDES permits and feedlot registration to county staff. The county and applicant will coordinate on scheduling chloride application(s) for the specified road segment and on subsequent monitoring or additional mitigation if warranted.
