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Opponents take aim at hog facility

BLUE EARTH — A hog facility scheduled to be built in Rome Township in Faribault County is still being opposed despite receiving a conditional use permit from county commissioners on May 19.

Barbara Baker, who lives across the road from the site, asked commissioners to revoke the permit during their meeting this week.

“I have a petition from a group of concerned citizens known as the Rome Township Coalition and one signed by residents of Rake, Iowa, opposing this project,” she said.

Among the reasons listed by the opponents are their concerns with odor and well water contamination.

County Attorney Kathryn Karjala addressed Baker and told her the board could not act on her request at this time.

“You will have to appeal this through the court system,” Karjala explained.

According to Baker, that is what the group will do.

Turning to other business, commissioners heard from Public Works director Mark Daly, who discussed repairs to a bridge in Verona Township. The board approved the work June 2 but the repairs are now on hold.

“I did not see this coming,” Daly explained. “We had received approval from District 7 but the Minnesota Department of Transportation central office told us we cannot use town bridge funds to do the repair work. MnDOT said they wanted a more permanent repair.”

Commissioner Greg Young asked when the bridge will be repaired.

“We will move it into our five-year plan,” Daly said. “The commissioners will have the discretion of where they want to fit it in.”

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