WILLMAR — The
Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to send back a recommendation to approve a conditional use permit for a cattle feedlot, asking the Planning Commission for further work.
The Kandiyohi County Planning Commission on April 7 unanimously recommended approval of the application submitted by Justin Anderson for the construction of a series of cattle feedlots off of U.S. Highway 71 south of Belgrade.
County Commissioner Dale Anderson abstained from discussion and voting on Tuesday, April 15 due to his connection to the project. The cattle feedlots would be constructed on land that he owns, and the applicant is his son.
The proposed project would have three phases scheduled to take place five years apart. Each phase would consist of the construction of a barn until a total and maximum of 999 new animal units were constructed. The first phase would also include a "kitchen" used for cattle feed and a manure stacking slab.
At the April 15 meeting, the County Board voted 3-1 to send the recommendation back to the Planning Commission. The board cited the odor prevention measures as unsatisfactory.
The recommendation in favor of approving the conditional use permit has eight findings of fact by the Planning Commission in support of the decision to recommend.
Finding No. 4 states that the commission finds that the plans contain adequate measures to reduce, prevent or control offensive odor, fumes, dust, noise and vibration, or that these measures are planned to be incorporated in the plan.
According to County Commissioner George "Corky" Berg, someone approached him with concerns regarding the validity of that finding.
“The concern I received would be that there were other sites around there that created a smell and this would be the third type of one close by. They were concerned about that. It affected them being outside already. I think their life is being changed because of that,” Berg said Tuesday at the County Board meeting.
Commissioner Roger Imdieke said that the complainant had built their home in the area when the nearby land only had a small dairy farm. After their home was built, a hog feedlot was built nearby, followed by this proposed construction project.
According to county zoning administrator Eric Van Dyken, the impact that the project would have on the surrounding area was factored into the recommendation.
The odor concerns stemmed in part from the potential density of livestock facilities in that area.
However, according to Van Dyken, the county has not adopted stringent setbacks between feedlots or density limitations. Rather, the county has historically considered itself a “livestock-friendly county,” which welcomes livestock producers as a valued part of the community.
“I know there is a way for both parties to move forward with some satisfaction. If there is some mitigation about the odors leaving the property, I am going to be more comfortable,” Imdieke said.
Commissioners Berg, Imdieke and Duane Anderson voted in favor of sending the recommendation back. Commissioner Steve Gardner voted no.
With the decision to remand the project to the Planning Commission, the permit application remains active for an additional 60 days. A new submission is not required. The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is May 12, according to the county's online meeting calendar.
The Kandiyohi County Board on Tuesday also heard from the Kandiyohi County immunization program regarding immunization rates in the county. According to statistics provided by Kandiyohi County Public Health, the county went from a 67.4% immunization rate among children in 2023 to a 71% rate in 2025.
Program leaders spoke to the outreach they have done to encourage people to get immunized, including radio and online ads, a billboard and bus wrap.
The board also voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the sale of a plot of land to the state of Minnesota for its preservation as a wildlife habitat by the Department of Natural Resources. The 80-acre property will be maintained by the state as an addition to Cabinrock Wildlife Management Area and be kept open for the public to use.
For more information on the County Board meeting or to view meeting documents for this and other county meetings, visit the Kandiyohi County website at kcmn.us and look under the commissioners tab.
Belgrade is in south central Minnesota, roughly 50 miles west of St. Cloud.