Update from Amy Wilde

We recently approved several small residential plats on Washington and Stella, and we also disallowed a proposed 21-lot plat until the developer reduced it to nine lots, with some conditionas added related to drainage. Neighbors in the area objected to such intensive development and the county had environmental and drainage concerns.

In June we closed down a feedlot on Lake Koronis which was not in compliance with the county feedlot ordinance. This was a unanimous vote and shows that our county board does enforce its feedlot rules. The farmer has now removed all but the 10 steers allowed within a shoreland area (he illegally had hundreds on site.)

Every spring we make a few minor changes to our zoning ordinance, as recommended by our P&Z Commission. So in April we amended our county zoning ordinance; there were a few items which may have been of interest to your membership. Additional regulations were placed on transmission towers; several changes were made to county ditch tree planting setbacks (with exceptions allowing trees closer to the ditches in shoreland areas, to protect shoreland and allow lot owners to beautify their yards--this after much input from members of the Collinwood Lake Assn.) We also clarified the distance setbacks on smaller feedlots and reduced the number of animal units requiring a conditional use permit from 400 to 300. I was disappointed that we did not at this time place the "odor offset" percentage setbacks as discussed last fall, but the planning and zoning commission felt it needed further study. Apparently it is nearly impossible to achieve the proposed 98 percent offset on some of the smaller dairy farms with open lots. It is easier to reduce odors on confinement buildings because ventilating fans and filters can be installed. So we will probably re-evaluate the odor offset on dairies and vote on that next winter. (The P&Z commission and staff are so busy with construction during the spring, summer and early fall that we generally study amendments during the winter months.)

On July 19, we also added language, at several Ellsworth Township residents' request, to be placed on rural residential building permit applications explaining to the applicant that they are building in or near an agricultural zone, and that some dust, noise and odors are to be expected as part of the farming process. The vote was 4-0. (I was not present at that meeting since I was the county's delegate at an out-of-town conference that day.) The exact language may be found in the official minutes and/or at the planning and zoning office.

(1) Minor repairs scheduled for County Tile #32.

The only county-administered tile which enters Lake Washington, Ditch #32 near Ellsworth Landing, will have minor repairs made this fall in a couple of spots (south of the shoreland district) where the tile has broken. In one instance, a driveway was flooded, requiring immeadiate attention. No additional land will be drained or added to the system and the new tile will be the same diameter as the broken tile. Owners of farmland will bear most of the cost of this repair, although a few adjacent residential property owners may see small assessments on their 2005 tax bills, in accordance with state and county drainage laws and policy. We are working with the Soil and Water Conservation District and Farm Service Agency to make sure the repairs comply with wetland and drainage laws.

(2) "I have also received a couple of phone calls regarding another tile, a private tile which drains into the southwest corner of the lake. Several local officials have looked at the discharge and, although it appears clear at this time, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was asked to take samples and, if any contaminants are found, their source will be looked into. Private drainage has been entering the lake at this point, in one form or another, since the early 1900s. There was undoubtedly silt runoff from this and other sources following the 5-6-inch rainfall last June. There is also significant weed growth in that area. An article about the milfoil problem is on the front page of the August 13 Enterprise Dispatch."

Two county commissioners represent the Lake Washington/Lake Stella area: myself (320-275-3684) for residents of Dassel, Collinwood and Ellsworth townships, and David Gabrielson (320-593-8977) for residents of Darwin Township.