LEDGEVIEW, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Residents of a new Ledgeview subdivision say when they recently built their homes, they had no idea a 15-million-gallon manure pit could eventually be their neighbor.
That’s what the Pansier Family is proposing for their farm on Dickinson Road.
Mark Forman lives near the proposed pit.
“If this goes through, you’re not only going to destroy millions and millions of dollars in residential real estate value, that’s going to affect the tax base in Brown County.”
Residents near the proposed manure pit brought their concerns to Brown County’s land conservation subcommittee Monday night.
Many highlighted health risks they found from researching the impacts of living near similar farming operations.
“The uniform conclusion from all this research is that nobody can say what a safe distance is from the pits is, but children are at particular risk,” said Nick Kolanko, who lives near the proposed pit.
County supervisor Dave Landwehr downplayed the health concerns.
“Will it stink at times? I’m sure it will, but also this isn’t the end of the road for Ledgeview.”
In Brown County, a manure pit must be 250 feet from any private well or home. The state’s requirement is 500 feet.
Jason Pansier, one of the two partners from the farm proposing the pit declined, says his farm is just trying to comply with DNR requirements.
Heidi Schmitt Marques, a DNR wastewater specialist, spoke to WLUK.
“It’s certainly a unique location considering there are subdivisions close by.”
Schmitt Marquez says the farm has geological sensitive areas, making it a challenging location for a manure pit. Schmitt Marquez says the farm is currently going through the permitting process.
“We don’t have the authority to deny them the permit on the approval provided they meet all the requirements as specified in state code.”
Brown County supervisors agreed county staff and the DNR should talk to the farm about whether they can come up with any possible alternatives.
Meanwhile, supervisors would also like to look at possibly extending its setback requirements for manure pits trying to locate near residential areas.
