By Sara Strong
Pipestone banker and Global Ventures owner David Logan has signed a plea agreement in U.S. District Court that would bring $160,000 to Rock County.
Logan is accused, among other things, of conspiracy to defraud federal bank regulators and of misapplying monies of First National Bank in Pipestone and Garretson.
Rock County is included in the plea agreements because the crimes involved some county feedlots and were connected to former Land Management Director John Burgers' bribery crimes.
As part of the plea agreement, Logan would pay $250,000 in "extraordinary restitution" for environmental or regulatory programs in southwest Minnesota.
About $130,000 of what Rock County receives would go toward the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency conducting "Level 3 inventories" on county feedlots.
The inventories are extensive, and to cover all of Rock CountyÕs nearly 600 registered feedlots will likely take all summer.
Interim Land Management Director Doug Bos said at Tuesday's Rock County Board meeting, "In the long run it may turn out to be good for Rock County. WeÕll get a clean bill of health, and everyone will take a second look at their operations."
Even if the countyÕs Land Management Office recently completed an inventory, the state will look at the feedlot again, to remove any suspicion of corruption or environmental hazards.
Commissioners agreed that for water safety the inspections are probably worth it but donÕt want animal producers to be offended by the extra checks.
Commissioner Ron Boyenga said, "We should get in front of it and let people know the plan."
Although the county doesn't know specifics from the MPCA, it wanted to let producers know what they may be a part of this spring and summer.
Level 3 inventories are the most specific of all inspections. They cover location, number of animal units and drawing dimensions, all specifications of feedlot buildings and lots and evaluate the entire operation.
A feedlot is defined as an area of animal confinement, and anyone with 50 animal units or more must register the feedlot.
If a feedlot is within 300 feet of a shoreline (meaning lakes, waterways or streams) it must be registered with the county and state if it contains as many as 10 animal units.
Animal units are measured by an animal's mass. For example, a cow is worth more animal units than a sheep.
There are provisions that limit fines to feedlot owners in cases where health is not in imminent danger.