5/12/05
Land Stewardship Project’s work at the State Capitol to keep township and community rights strong continues. Legislation is moving forward that undermines township and county rights by placing unneeded roadblocks and bureaucratic hurdles in the way of creating local zoning ordinances that affect feedlots (see below for details).

Senate version needs to pass to keep township rights strong
The Senate has stood up to the special interests and dramatically improved the bill in committee. For example, in the original bill ONE elected official, not a majority, could force a township or county to do an “impact on local economy statement” of a proposed feedlot ordinance BEFORE the ordinance can go into effect. The Senate changed that to require a majority vote. The
Senate also created better notification of neighbors and townships when a large feedlot is proposed in their community (see below for more details).

However, the House has failed to make the improvements necessary to protect strong local control. With only a few weeks left in the legislative session, big ag interests will push hard for the House version. To keep township rights strong we need to make sure it is the current Senate version (Senate File 1629) that passes. It is now awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.

Take Action!
Call Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson at 651-296-3826. Let him know that you are counting on him to keep township rights strong and to be a leader on this issue. Tell him that you want the current version of Senate File 1629 passed. That means the Senate must keep the improvements made to Senate File 1629 in committee and not allow it to be weakened on the Senate floor or give in to the House position in conference committee.

Call your Senator with the same message. For the name and number of your Senator call Senate information at 888-234-1112 or 651-296-0504.

Update on the Recent House Floor Vote
Many of you contacted your Representatives about supporting floor amendments to the House bill. There was a strong debate on the floor, especially for an amendment from Rep. Carlos Mariani that would have deleted the worst provisions that undermined township and community rights.

While the amendment failed on a 63 to 69 vote, several legislators deserve recognition for standing up for grassroots government and local control, including Representatives Carlos Mariani, Aaron Peterson, Kent Eken, Mary Ellen Otremba, Patti Fritz, Ruth Johnson, Frank Moe and Frank Hornstein.

If you want information about how legislators voted on the Mariani amendment, reply to this e-mail with a request or call Bobby at 507-523-3366


Background on legislation
This legislation is an initiative of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s Livestock Advisory Task Force, which is dominated by the largest corporate ag interests in the state.

House File 1732 (Rep. Greg Blaine) was incorporated into the House Omnibus Ag Finance Bill
(H.F.1420), which has passed the House and is now waiting to go to conference committee.

Senate File 1629 (Sen. Steve Dille) has passed all committees and is waiting for a vote on the
Senate Floor.

Key provisions in the bills that undermine township rights and how the Senate has improved them:

1. ONE elected official (not a majority) can force a township or county to complete an “impact on local economy statement” of a proposed feedlot ordinance BEFORE the ordinance can go into effect. This is undemocratic and allows one elected official to be obstructionist. Even if a majority of township supervisors were opposed to the idea, they would not have the power to stop it. This would, in effect, create an un-funded mandate on local governments and would be a roadblock to adopting a feedlot ordinance.

Senate: Improved by requiring a majority vote
House: Refused to accept improvements

2. Special notice and public hearing requirements are mandated for township interim ordinances (temporary moratoriums) that affect feedlots. Interim ordinances allow townships to put temporary moratoriums on major development while they consider enacting or modifying zoning ordinances. Currently this can be done at any properly called township meeting, but this bill would require a public hearing with 10 days notice if the interim ordinance affects feedlots. Proposers of large feedlots, however, do not have to give the township advance notice. No industry should get special consideration when it comes to local zoning powers. This opens the door for special consideration for other industries such as housing developments and mining operations.

Senate: Improved by requiring notice to townships of proposed large feedlots and
improving notice for neighbors
House: Only created notice for townships

3. Removes language that calls for the social and environmental impacts of feedlots to be considered when state agencies review a local feedlot ordinance. By removing references to the consideration of social and environmental impacts, the legislation undermines township ordinances that protect the local environment and quality of life by placing common sense limits on how large feedlots can be and where they can be located in the community.

Senate: Improved by reinserting language
House: Refused to accept improvements

4. Creates special consideration for funneling state dollars to roads that need improvement because of new livestock and agricultural operations. This is an attempt to have state taxpayers pick up the tab for road improvements that are needed because of new large-scale livestock operations. One industry should not get special consideration when it comes to limited road improvement funds, and, certainly, preference should not be given to new livestock operations over the thousands of existing family farm livestock operations.

Senate: Improved by broadening language to include existing farms, not just new
ones
House: Refused to accept improvements