Public meeting held on proposed 720-animal-unit feedlot in Burke Township

Pipestone County held a public meeting on March 24 under Minnesota Statutes §116.07, subd. 7(a), for a feedlot permit application filed by Gopher Acres LLC. Environmental Director Kyle Krier attended the required meeting and the applicant, owner Ethan Spronk, answered questions about the proposed facility.

The proposal calls for one new total-confinement building with an underfloor liquid-manure storage area described in the record as capable of holding 2,400 wean-to-finish swine, totaling 720 animal units; all manure would be stored in under-floor concrete pits. The facility is proposed for the NE quarter of Section 31 in Burke Township (T-106-N, R-44-W), Pipestone County.

Neighbor Heine Walhof raised concerns about the project’s setback from his property, which he said is approximately one quarter mile from the proposed site. County staff recorded public comments and applicant responses; the commission did not take formal action on the application at the meeting.

Next steps: the feedlot permitting process will proceed according to county and state environmental rules and any required permitting timelines; no county permit decision was recorded in the March 24 minutes.