LITCHFIELD -- A group is appealing the Meeker County Board's approval of a feedlot expansion near Lake Minnie Belle.
Friends of Lake Minnie Belle, a group of 32 people, filed the appeal last week in Meeker County District Court. The Meeker County Board of Commissioners, Meeker County and Dan Fitterer, the feedlot owner, are listed as respondents in the case.
The group wants the conditional use permit for Fitterer's feedlot expansion rescinded because it believes it was granted without an adequate environmental review and should therefore be void, according to the notice of appeal. It also believes the decision was arbitrary and capricious because it thinks the county made inadequate findings that were contrary to evidence in the record, according to the notice.
The respondents maintain that they made reasonable decisions and followed all applicable procedures, according to the notice.
The Meeker County Board approved 4-1 a conditional use permit earlier this month for an expansion of Fitterer's dairy feedlot. The permit allows him to increase the number of cows from 40 to 160, which is equivalent to 240 animal units. The county permits up to 300 animal units within a shoreland district.
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Fitterer's farm is about 300 feet from the shore of Lake Minnie Belle, which has about 340 residential lots surrounding it. Friends of Lake Minnie Belle is concerned about how the expansion will affect air and water quality and property values.
The group has also appealed the County Board's January decision to not require an environmental impact statement for the project. A less-extensive environmental review, called an environmental assessment worksheet, was done on the project.
An environmental impact statement is an in-depth review that can take about a year to complete.
The county's insurer, Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust, will represent the county and the commissioners in the appeal. Fitterer is being represented by New Ulm attorney Dustan Cross.
Friends of Lake Minnie Belle's attorneys are James and Karna Peters of Alexandria.
Fitterer's expansion plans include converting an existing barn into a milking parlor and maternity pens. He plans to expand the manure basin and add a high-density plastic liner to it. He is also planning to remodel a loafing barn and may add a second loafing barn later.
He plans to add the new cows in phases over five years.
