Gage County Supervisors Will Make Decision on Controversial Swine Facility In Less Than Two Weeks

By Gordon HopkinsBoth supporters and opponents of a special permit to allow the construction of a CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) near Liberty, had another opportunity to express their opinions to the Gage County Board of Supervisors at a hearing Wednesday morning, October 18, 2023.They will have to wait a little longer to learn the final decision. Supervisors said they would make their decision in two weeks.One Supervisor, Chairperson Erich Tiemann, had to recuse himself due to a potential conflict of interest. The nature of that conflict of interest was not revealed at the hearing.The Island Grove Summit Swine CAFO is expected to hold an estimated 6,200 animals in section 25 of Island Grove Township, just north of Liberty and near the Gage-Pawnee County line. While the swine operation would belong to Summit Pork of Alden, Iowa, the animals would actually be provided by Fairbury-based Livingston Enterprises Inc. (LEI). The land belongs to Otto Farms, which would provide the land to build the facility and then use the liquid hog manure from the CAFO to be injected as fertilizer on farm ground.The proposal has proven to be controversial, with many residents of Liberty and the surrounding region attending the hearing to ask the board to deny the permit. Concerns raised include the water table, odor and whether the road can handle the anticipated additional traffic.Kristopher Bousquet, Director of Livestock Development for the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, touted the economic benefits of the CAFO at the hearing, “On the economic side of things, there'll be a significant amount of impact on payroll, as well as just overall impact to the local community.”However, Max Larson of Liberty disputed that, “You've been asked to vote for something that an entire community is not in favor of. I've been reminded of the economic value. Yes, there will be some in the beginning. But I fear some of the profits will go to Summit and go to Iowa. Livingston's profits will go to Livingston in Jefferson County. I see very little for Gage County, at least.”Don Singleton warned, if the supervisors approve the permit, “There will be a lawsuit.”In fact, some individuals have already taken legal action. Patricia Barnard, Clint Rule and Margaret Haith are listed as plaintiffs in a Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order filed October 13, 2023.District Court Judge David J.A. Bargen denied the motion on Monday, October 16, but another court hearing is scheduled for October 30.

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