By Sara StrongThe Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday met the new Executive Director of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Project, Troy Larson.He said this is an exciting time for the water project "because up until this time, it was essentially a dream."Larson said the question of completing the project isn’t "if" anymore, but "when."Lewis and Clark Rural Water System will provide an alternative, backup water supply from the Missouri River to 23 towns and water systems in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.This year, $12.7 million in federal, state and local funds will be spent in site purchasing, easements and pipe costs. President Bush doesn’t have Lewis and Clark in the federal budget for 2004, which isn’t as bad as it first sounds, Larson said. "We have a strong Congressional delegation in the tri-state region," Larson said, and he is counting on those delegates to get $30 million to Lewis and Clark in 2004. Larson said it’s realistic to expect less than $30 million. He estimates the amount of federal contributions will continue to increase as two major projects in the state of South Dakota are completed, freeing up more money.Rock County and the city of Luverne are local members in the 23-member Lewis and Clark Rural Water System. The Rock County Rural Water Board has recommended to the county commissioners that the county withdraw from the system, because of time and cost issues.Lewis and Clark Rural Water probably won’t reach the county until 2014. And when it signed up, Rural Water was expected to pay $303,018; in 2001 it was estimated at $450,741. The county will consider Rural Water’s recommendation in June.By June, Lewis and Clark will have a new agreement for members to sign, and that agreement will address issues that some members have had with the system. Rock County’s main hang-up has been that it would be required to pay for the state’s portion of funding, if Minnesota doesn’t come through.Four other members are considering dropping out of the system as well. Larson said it wouldn’t hurt Lewis and Clark overall, because other members are interested in buying their share of water allocation.Other issues members have with the system are: oCertain members want the system to be worked on in all three states at the same time, rather than working from one end of the system to the other. They fear that once the major user, Sioux Falls, S.D., is on line, federal funding for the less populated areas will lose favor.oSome members want alternative funding options in the way of bonds and grants.oMembers want to be able to sell their portion of allocated water if they don’t need it on a given day. They’d like to use their water as an asset.oMembers want Lewis and Clark to address what could happen if the states’ 10 percent cost share doesn’t come through.While Lewis and Clark was on the table, the County Commissioners looked at a proposal from Rural Water to allow an interconnect with Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water. Lincoln-Pipestone wants to purchase water from Rock County for $1.35 per thousand gallons. Rural Water had suggested $1.85, but will continue negotiations to bring back to the County Board.Feedlots and permitsThe Rock County Board approved the feedlot ordinance, which is on its fourth draft and had been discussed at previous meetings. The most notable change is that a conditional use permit will be required for the expansion of an existing animal feedlot within one-quarter mile of a residence, incorporated city, church, cemetery, Blue Mounds State Park and Schoneman Park. An "expansion" means that an existing facility increases its animal units by 250. That is about the equivalent of 833 hogs. oThe Board approved conditional use permits for a new Magnolia wastewater treatment area west of its current location.oThe Board approved a conditional use permit for Henning Brothers, north of Luverne, to stockpile and crush recycled concrete and asphalt. Concerns about dust, noise and heavy traffic were expressed at a public hearing. Conditions allow for Henning to store 10,000 cubic yards of material to be crushed when enough is stockpiled. The crushing process takes one to one-and-one-half weeks to complete. The permit is up for renewal in five years.
