Quorum Court unanimously backs poultry producers and calls for good-faith talks over Illinois River dispute
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Summary
The Washington County Quorum Court unanimously passed a resolution urging a return to good-faith negotiations between poultry processors and regulators over the Illinois River watershed, citing the economic importance of local farms and watershed protection.
The Washington County Quorum Court unanimously approved a resolution expressing support for poultry producers in the Illinois River watershed and urging the parties in an ongoing dispute to return to good-faith negotiations.
Justice Ricker moved the resolution and Justice Lemming seconded; the measure passed on a unanimous roll call. Supporters, including Justice Rio Stafford, framed the resolution as an effort to protect both local farm families and the watershed’s long-term health. "Our farmers deserve credit for making major long term progress in cutting the phosphorus in the watershed," Rio Stafford said, and urged negotiated solutions that protect both water quality and local livelihoods.
Several justices noted recent developments, including the attorney general’s attendance at a regional meeting and a reported settlement by a processor in a related matter. The resolution was introduced as an expression of county support for producers and an appeal for negotiations designed to protect the watershed and the county’s agricultural economy.
