TOWN OF BAYFIELD
BAYFIELD COUNTY , WISCONSIN
RESOLUTION 2015-01
Supporting Bayfield County Moratorium and Livestock Siting Ordinance Regulating Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
Whereas, the Town of Bayfield ("Town") is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan and intends to address public concerns about the potential impacts of new large scale confined animal feeding operations ("CAFOs") on the Town's economy and quality of life, including concerns about potential negative impacts to public health and safety, existing agricultural operations, current land and property uses, tourism, other businesses, and the local and regional environment (land, air, and water);
Whereas, the Town is aware that Bayfield County ("County") enacted a Livestock Siting Ordinance to regulate new CAFOs;
Whereas, more recently, the County enacted a Moratorium on the acceptance of applications and the issuance of licenses for siting CAFOs, applicable to any CAFO that lacks vested rights, in order to provide additional time for the County to modify and strengthen its Livestock Siting Ordinance based on scientific grounds;
Whereas, the Town is aware of a proposed CAFO in the Town of Eileen and is concerned about potential adverse impacts of that proposal on the Town, County, and regional environment, because the proposed CAFO has applied for a license from the County but has not submitted a complete and credible Nutrient Management Plan ("NMP") or an approved Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("WPDES") Permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with its application to the County; and
Whereas, the proposed CAFO in the Town of Eileen lacks vested rights because it has not submitted a complete and credible NMP or an approved WPDES Permit with its application for a license from the County.
Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Town supports the decision of the County to regulate CAFOs by enacting a Livestock Siting Ordinance and Moratorium.
Be It Further Resolved, that the Town urges the County to thoroughly review scientific information and develop additional CAFO siting and operational regulations to the full extent of its legal authority, to protect public health and safety, ensure sound land use and CAFO regulation, and protect the Town's economy and quality oflife, including existing agricultural operations, current land uses and property values, tourism, other businesses, and the local and regional environment (land, air, and water).
Be It Further Resolved, that the Town encourages the County to apply the Moratorium to the proposed CAFO in the Town of Eileen, because the proposed CAFO has not submitted a complete and credible NMP or an approved WPDES Permit with is application for a license from the County and, therefore, lacks vested rights.
Adopted this 16th day of March, 2015.
Thomas J. Gordon - Town Chair
Karen Boutin - Town Supervisor
Gerald Carlson - Town Supervisor
Craig Hoopman - Absent
Robert Meierotto - Town Supervisor
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THA T the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly and legally adopted by the TOWN OF BAYFIELD at a Regular Town Board Meeting held the l61h day of March in the year 2015.