Arrow Rock residents oppose new hog operation, appeal to county commission for help

A large contingent of Arrow Rock community members and supporters attended the Jan. 10 Saline County Commission meeting at the Saline County Courthouse to voice their opposition to a proposed hog feeding operation near Arrow Rock.

Arrow Rock resident Whitney Kerr addressed the commission first, asking for their support in fighting the establishment of a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) near Arrow Rock.

The proposed operation is to be built about two miles outside of Arrow Rock by life-long resident Dennis Gessling. The plans call for two new buildings where the Gessling family would raise about 4,800 pigs.

Some Arrow Rock citizens are worried about the environmental effects of the operation, as well as what effects that it could have on the tourism industry in Arrow Rock.

Kerr introducted Executive Director of the Friends of Arrow Rock Kathy Borgman, who addressed the commission.

"We know it (agriculture) is the bedrock of Saline County," Borgman said. "But we feel that the scales have been tipped in favor of the CAFO operator."

Borgman then asked the commission to go on record with the Department of Natural Resources in opposition to the proposed farm.

"I would ask that you tip the scales in favor of Arrow Rock and our heritage," Borgman said.

Ron Rennolds, a businessman who moved to Arrow Rock from Atlanta, Ga., a year ago, then presented the commission with a number of studies on the health effects of CAFOs on neighboring communities. The studies were conducted in a number of states including Iowa and North Carolina.

Rennolds said that the studies indicate that these farms are a health risk.

"The Iowa study said that it is a health hazard to live within two miles of a CAFO," Rennolds said.

Rennolds then asked the commission to take action against the farm.

"Nobody likes zoning per se," Rennolds said. "But there needs to be protection."

Rennolds then said that he owns a number of properties in Arrow Rock and he worries about other effects of the hog operation.

"It is going to have a devastating effect on property values," Rennolds said.

Rennolds acknowledged that there are no zoning laws in Saline County, but pointed out that many counties have used health ordinances to control such operations. He asked the commission to consider helping in that way as well.

Kerr then addressed the commission again. Kerr asked for the commission's support in efforts to encourage state-wide legislation to impose rules for industrial agriculture in close proximity to state parks and historical sites.

Kerr then presented the commission with a petition against the proposed CAFO. The petition contained approximately 65 signatures.

Kerr then asked the commission to help protect the citizens of Saline County against a totally un-regulated industry.

"I can hardly visualize that they (CAFOs) are not being regulated, sir," Saline County Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner replied. Plattner then told the assembled that the Department of Natural Resources is not only the regulating party for such a farm operation but also the overseer of state parks and historical sites.

"It is a little hard when there is one entity that governs both," Plattner said.

Plattner told the assembled crowd that the commission would take the issue under advisement and the meeting was adjourned.

Northern District Commissioner Norvelle "Brownie" Brown then apologized to the crowd for having to end the meeting due to a previously scheduled commission meeting dealing with courthouse issues.

Gessling, who was not at the meeting, commented later that he hopes that the commission would support him and his family.

"I haven't contacted the commission," Gessling said. "But I would hope that they would support agriculture. That is what this community is, agriculture."

Gessling said that he did not mean any harm to the community of Arrow Rock, a community in which he serves as chief of the Arrow Rock Fire Department. He only wants to expand a family business.

"I respect their opinion," Gessling said. "I hope they respect what our family is doing."

Contact Zach Sims at marshallbusiness@socket.net