Gage County Residents Complain About Smell From Swine Operations

By Gordon HopkinsResidents living near a CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) in northern Gage County are complaining about the smell.The CAFO is operated by Summit Port of Alden, Iowa, and is located in the Hanover Township, along South 82nd Road, between Pickrell and Adams. In 2023, Gage County Supervisors denied the permit for a similar operation in southern Gage County near Liberty after residents raised objections. One of those objections was possible odor. IncineratorOn Wednesday, January 24, 2024, Gage County Supervisors heard from Marcella Rademacher, who complained about the odor coming from the CAFO. She said the incinerator is operating all of the time and, in her opinion, has a strong odor. She also described the odor as being unusual and different than typical swine operations.The Nebraska Department of Energy and Environment (NDEE) inspected the Hanover site on December 28, 2023.While the NDEE permit allows 250 pounds per hour, the incinerator is designed for 100 pounds per hour.Records indicate the incineration usage rate is at the top end of the design range.After the meeting, Gage County Supervisor Don Schuller spoke with Summit Pork Environmental manager Carl Jacobson. According to Jacobson, said Summit is replacing a 3/8 inch propane line with 1/2 inch line under the assumption that the incinerator is not burning hot enough. Jacobson said he believes this will solve the problem. Review of Zoning RegulationsMargaret Haith spoke during the public comment portion of the supervisor’s meeting. She recommended the board extend the half-mile setback when reevaluating the zoning regulations.The applications for CAFO permits in 2023 resulted in considerable public controversy.The Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission had received a letter from the county board, requesting they to review CAFO regulations. P&Z then requested that the board put together a panel of three members of the board, three members of the P&Z Commission and individuals from the public to review all zoning regulations and conduct a town hall meeting to gain public input. However, Gage County Chairman Erich Tiemann announced this will not happen. Instead, he appointed a three-person committee from the board to review CAFO regulations. He selected Supervisors Emily Haxby, Eddie Dorn and Dave Swavely for the committee.According to Haxby, turnout for town hall meetings won’t be good enough to satisfy the purpose.Schuller wrote in his bi-weekly meeting update, “I did not have the opportunity to be involved with this decision. I commented it is our duty to provide the opportunity for the public to be involved. We should respect the request made to us by P&Z.”Tiemann said there would be opportunity for the public to comment on changes to livestock regulations at the county board committee meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb. 5, at 8 a.m.

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