HomeMy WebLinkAbout960732.tiff 04/15/1996 10:34 303-849-5258 SHOENEMAN 5-M RANCH PAGE 02
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Joel and Linda Shoeneman
8672 WCR 73
Roggen Co . 80652
ph: 849-5259
fax :849-5258 Barbara Kirkmeyer
weld Co.Commissioner
4/15/96 Greeley, Co . 80631
Dear Barbara:
Enclosed is a letter we sent to Jeff Stoll this morning . We
know you have lots of issues going on but hope you are
keeping up on the progress of Moark Hatcheries.
It appears to us and the other members of this community ,
that Moark tried to give you the impression that they would
be another Morning Fresh Farm. If this was their intent , why
are they so reluctant to answer the specific questions posed
by the Health department? If you and the Health Department
DO NOT impose some specific guidelines , on pater , for them
we will see one more government "faux paste`'
We know how important it was for us to maintain our county
power to regulate , that the legislature just voted on . So
lets act on that right and get serious.
As we stated in our letter to Jeff , we all know of the many
and ongoing problems Monfort and National Hog Farms are
having.
Based on their tactics in Grand Junction and lack of interest
in responding specifically to Jeff Stol1 's questions , gives
us much concern as to their intentions to comply . Remember ,
Perry Buda , from Mesa County Health , said that one of their
Problems in regulating Mesa County Egg was that they WERE NOT
a home rule county.
We are hard to catch at home , but the fax is on full time .
We would appreciate a response after you have had time to
review the documents mentioned in our letter to Jeff .
We will also relay your response to the other folks in the
community .
Sincerely,
re- : /3G ; N[-; &9
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960732
04/15/1996 10'34 303-S49-5258 SH0ENEMAN 5-M RANCH PAGE 03
Linda and Joel Shoeneman
8672 WCR 73
Roggen, Co. 80652
,,,
Jeff Stoll
,K Weld Co. Health Dept .
Greeley Colorado 80631
Dear Jeff:
We have reviewed the letter and questions from your
department dated February 13 , 1996 sent to Terry Osborn .
Your concerns were well thought out and very much in line
with the concerns of this community. We were also grateful
that you requested specific information .
We have also reviewed the answer to that same letter sent to
you by Terry Osborn, dated April 10 , 1996. This letter does
not answer most of the questions and in fact , if you accept
this response you have given them the same open ended
proposal that they tried to push through at the county
commissioner hearings .
As an example: Management Plan--ab--second paragraph--
"We can provide the county with a brochure concerning truck
spreader beds for manure hauling . " This says nothing , we can
provide you with brochures also. Mr . Osborn obviously
doesn 't want to commit himself to any method that he may have
to follow through with .
During the week of April 7 , 1996 T drove by the Pluss Turkey
Farm on The Keenesburg cutoff road. They were hauling manure
on that day. They were using ordinary , open ended , manure
spreader trucks . These trucks had no cover over the top and
no tail gate . THE SMELL WAS HORRENDOUS and the manure
product was falling out the back .
Regarding the waste eggs. In light of the recent "Mad Cow
Disease" , We wonder if animal feed will be a viable market .
If you will refer to the pictures we presented and the
commissioner hearings , one photo showed waste eggs dumped
near an outside shed . Near these eggs were very deep, large
tire rutts--indicating a situation with large amounts of
moisture. If you accept their proposals you have given them
permission to incorporate ALL of the waste eggs into the
manure. We might remind you that there was no mention of this
intent at the county commissioner hearings , to the best of my
recollection. Mr . Osborne says that these waste eggs will
be less than 1% of the total manure volume. Based on the
total amount of manure the facility will produce, these eggs
could raise the moisture content of the manure a significant
amount.
ALSO predators such as skunks, raccoons, foxes, dogs , etc .
love eggs . If these are just dumped on top of the manure as
the affore mentioned pictures indicate--then what ?
Regarding Proactive Odor and Fly Program #a--"Stirring" --
S
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04/15/1996 10:34 303-849-5258 SHOENEMAN 5-M RANCH PAGE 04
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what exactly is stirring? Every time the manure product ,
which also contains dead birds , is disturbed there will be
odor . Does this mean we cyan expect odor every 46 hours?
Mr . Osborne will probably be spreading the manure pn the
adjoining grassland, owned by his father . . The reason I say
this is because everyone else who has grassland is using it
to provide feed for their cattle in' the summer , when odors
are likely to be at their peak .
We are also QUITE AWARE of the problems Monfort is having
because they are spreading their manure at levels that exceed
the acceptable amounts on their own farm land.
We are also QUITE AWARE of the problems the hog farm is
having with high nitrate levels as a result of the amounts of
manure they are spreading on their grassland .
Are Monfort and National Hog Farms supposed to be governed by
the "Confined Animal Feeding" rags?
Mr . Osborne has answered the question about soil samples of
other farmers but has not addressed the question of soil
samples on the land owned by his father . They further state
that these samples are voluntary and only by the request of
the farmer . What if the "farmer" is his father and he does
not "request' the tests. How will your office monitor this?
Will your office recommend test wells to monitor possible
water contamination ?
They have 'not answered any of your questions -on paper--
regarding Proactive odor and Fly Program ,section c
YOUR OFFICE AND BARBARA KIRKMEYER HAVE BOTH said that you
expect a Morning Fresh Operation . They have not even said
that they will put in a pelletizer et any time. let alone
when they reach the size of Morning Fresh . These people have
only INDICATED that AT SOME PHASE the have a PLAN for a
dryer .
We could go on and on but in short, We do not see much
intent on the part of Moark to cooperate with your office or
any of the regulations you would like to institute .
They have very little down on paper . If your office approves
their proposed fly and odor abatement program --- you have
given them almost nothing specific to violate . That is the
problem in Grand Junction-their are almost no rules to
violate . we were under the impression that a "Home Rule"
situation was very important because you , the Health
Department can put some teeth into the regulations. Well now
is your opportunity to set a precedent and protect our
"neighborhood" as it says in the County Charter .
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