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Clay County Planning Commission approves 999‑animal‑unit cattle feedlot permit
Summary
The Clay County Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a proposed 999‑animal‑unit cattle feedlot on a 160‑acre parcel near Barnesville, subject to 12 county conditions and required state approvals; neighbors raised concerns about fencing, mortalities composting and runoff to Whiskey Creek.
The Clay County Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit for a proposed 999‑animal‑unit cattle feedlot on Parcel ID 16.025.4000 after a public hearing in which staff, the applicant and nearby residents spoke.
Staff member Matt told commissioners the application proposes a confined cattle feedlot on about 160 acres roughly 4.5 miles east of Barnesville and about a half‑mile south of Trunk Highway 34. He said the submittal includes a construction short form for registration with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and a comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) that runs through 2030. "Based on the information submitted, it appears to meet all the standards found in our code," Matt said, while noting public questions about manure handling, mortalities and potential runoff to Whiskey Creek.
The applicant, who identified himself as Ryan Haug, described the farm as a fourth‑generation family operation and said the owners wanted to expand their livestock production. "We're 4th generation family farm in Southeast Clay County," Haug told the commission, and said the facility design includes concrete‑walled manure bays and a designated area for composting mortalities.
Several neighbors spoke during public comment. Stuart Scholstad urged the applicants to respect property lines and to avoid placing compost or manure immediately adjacent to neighboring yards, and said fencing should be repaired to prevent cattle escapes: "Just to, be aware of the property lines and then just be aware to, you know, maybe not put compost and manure, you know, right on right up against the next person's property." Bob Gilbertson asked whether the site and operations plan is public and requested a copy; staff said the site plan is available on the county website and that a more detailed site plan will be submitted with a building permit. "One thing as part of the application is a copy of the site plan or operations plan. I'm wondering if that is public. If it is, I'd like to get a copy of that," Gilbertson said.
Staff read 12 recommended conditions for approval, including limiting the approval to a cattle feedlot not to exceed 999 animal units, requiring all necessary MPCA and county feedlot officer approvals and permits before construction or operation, and requiring that the facility be built and operated substantially consistent with submitted site and building plans and the CNMP. Matt told the commission the CNMP itself was not included in the mailed packet because it was 342 pages, but that staff would provide the full document to interested parties.
After deliberation the commission approved the conditional use permit with the 12 conditions. The motion passed on a voice vote; the record does not include a roll‑call tally. The commission and staff noted that state and county approvals from the MPCA and the county feedlot officer are required before construction and operation, and that final site plans and permitting documents will be submitted and reviewed at the building permit stage.
What happens next: the applicants must obtain any required MPCA and county feedlot officer approvals, meet the county conditions, and file necessary building and driveway permits before construction can begin. Staff offered to provide copies of the full CNMP and the site plan to neighbors who requested them.
