County feedlot officer presents 2024 annual report; board approves

Anne Steinhaus, Meeker County Feedlot Officer, presented her 2024 annual report to the board on Feb. 18 and requested the board’s signature on the report required by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) grant process. Steinhaus told commissioners she conducts about 40 inspections per year; roughly 20 of those inspections are counted toward the MPCA grant, with the remainder covering CAFO or county CUP‑conditioned sites that fall under MPCA permitting.

Steinhaus described her inspection cycle and workload: she aims to inspect about five previously uninspected sites per year, completes required CUP inspections, responds to complaint inspections and handles additional duties that represent roughly 70% of her position. She described working with multiple agencies last year on a wetland restoration near Grove City that affected a feedlot and required several site visits and coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the MPCA.

Steinhaus told the board the county’s feedlot base number used for MPCA grant funding is reviewed every four years; she said the county’s registered counts can fluctuate as sites are added or removed. She also noted that manure‑testing/record issues accounted for at least one noncompliance on the 2024 report; records were brought back into compliance.

Commissioner Schmidt moved to approve the Feedlot Officer’s 2024 annual report and requested signature; Commissioner Oberg seconded. The board voted aye; the motion carried.

The report was informational in content and the board’s action was to approve and sign the MPCA annual report as presented.