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Commissioners discuss ordinance options after concerns about large aboveground fuel tanks and a dead-animal pit
Summary
Commissioners discussed drafting a county ordinance to regulate large aboveground fuel storage and secondary containment after staff flagged uncontained tanks and a gravel/processing site that may store sizable fuel volumes.
A multi-part discussion on county land-use and environmental risks focused on a gravel pit and on-site aboveground tanks that county staff said may hold tens of thousands of gallons of fuel. Commissioners and staff indicated concern about containment, nearby wells and whether the site's use was agricultural or commercial.
One commissioner said the electrolysis-prone sandy soils in parts of the county make uncontained steel tanks particularly risky: "The electrolysis in the soil is why we had to go to plastic tanks, fiberglass tanks and whatnot," a commissioner said, describing observed corrosion risks.
County staff and commissioners discussed options for an ordinance that would restrict aboveground storage and require secondary containment. Thresholds under consideration included 10,000 gallons, 5,000 gallons and 2,000 gallons; commissioners suggested a lower limit (e.g., 2,000–5,000) would address most agricultural users while targeting larger commercial operations. Staff emphasized the need to avoid unintended harm to small farms while ensuring protection for neighbors and groundwater.
Commissioners also discussed a separate nearby gravel pit and a "dead animal" processing question — including whether property transfers and permitting are complete and whether an interim MOU could address short-term storage needs until formal transfer and permits are completed.
Action taken: commissioners agreed to start administrative work to draft ordinance language, research thresholds and identify inspection/enforcement options; staff were asked to review sample ordinances and reach out to affected neighbors and agricultural stakeholders before returning to the commission for formal direction.
The discussion did not produce a finalized ordinance at the meeting. Commissioners stressed outreach with agricultural stakeholders, inspection fee models, and potential secondary-containment requirements before any regulation is adopted.
