Seward County hits pause on large animal operations, but proposed chicken barn not affected

Now the county is hitting the brakes on new permits for these operations.

The Board of Commissioners voted to pause all new livestock permits for six months after weeks of neighbors speaking out about health, water quality and odor concerns.

SEE ALSO: Seward County panel rejects big chicken farm after opponents flock to meeting

Jonathan Leo, a former environmental attorney, said the neighbors’ concerns are valid.

“I know people who are within a half a mile of large chicken barns in other counties, and they can’t go outside and enjoy their front yard,” Leo said.

He said the large facilities —  called consolidated animal feeding operations — contribute to respiratory illnesses and air quality problems.

Plus, Leo said the heavy semitrailer traffic on county roads increases the maintenance cost.

“You also have water quality issues associated with the prefoliation of these operations if they’re not maintained properly,” he said.

SEE ALSO: ‘This is hurting local farming’: Seward County residents express concerns with new zoning proposal

County officials said the six months will be used for further study, reviewing permit criteria and gathering input from farmers and other locals.

Leo said six months should be enough time “if and only if the right kind of data is sought and obtained by the county board, by the planning commission, by the zoning department and other county officials.”

The poultry farm at the center of this discussion, Pine Creek Poultry, is not impacted by the moratorium.

County Commissioner Misty Ahmic said the moratorium does not affect any current operations or those pending review.

The commissioners will consider the Pine Creek Poultry project at their Aug. 26 meeting.

The zoning board recommended against approving the farm.