WIUM Local
(2011-06-16)
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Members of Rural Residents for Responsible Agriculture
A group called "Rural Residents for Responsible Agriculture" opposes construction of the hog farm. The group started a letter-writing campaign to county board members. RRRA also collected 218 signatures of registered voters in the county on a petition to request the public hearing.
A peition with 75 qualified signatures would have forced the board's hand. Instead, board member Lee Trotter moved to request the meeting. The board overwhelming approved the resolution.
RRRA spokesperson Loka Ashwood said, "They (residents) don't want this. It's going to pollute the water. It's going to put the burden on taxpayers in our part of the county, in El Dorado Township."
Ashwood said RRRA has 60 members from McDonough County. Members are concerned about water contamination, air pollution, reduced property values and the high volume of trucks traffic on narrow county roads.
County board members had discussed the hearing but felt there was no point until the board received a notice of intent to build Shamrock Acres from the Illinois Ag Department. That notice came this week.
The Illinois Ag Department will schedule and run the informational meeting.
Professional Swine Management of Carthage would manage the hog farm. The company did not send a representative to the county board meeting.
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