Troubled

This morning I'm deeply disturbed by the re-zoning approval for an Ag Park surrounding Shideler.

It appears that the prosperity of a few outweighs the negative effects this will have on many living in and around Shideler.

While the approval of this re-zoning does not guarantee that ag businesses will come into the area, it seems inevitable. It sounds like, because so many areas refuse to let this type of business come in due to pollution and other negative effects, they are lining up.

However, it seems like the planning commission rushed into a decision. It seems as though Joe Russell and his posse communicated that if we failed to approve this now, the businesses would move on to another area.

Question: If this is the next big thing and there are all kinds of options, would it really hurt to put it off a while longer to better examine the proposal?

Some farmers in favor of this were blasting Commissioner Brooke's proposal to include local regulations of the facilities. They said they already have enough regulations from the federal and state levels....Hmm...

If that's the case, why does a farmer outside of Eaton who runs a CAFO continually get brought up on charges for improper disposal of waste? Why does he continually pay fines in the tens-of-thousands? Probably because the state and federal regulations are not adequate and any fines he faces are less than the costs of proper disposal.

This is a mess...My hope is that, though the zoning has been approved, the potential companies looking to come into the area will find another, more suitable place to go.