Commissioners approve health ordinance language for proposed CAFO site

At its regular meeting Friday morning, the Howard County Commission approved the language for a health ordinance that would limit the amount of hogs within a certain distance of existing homes.

The drafted ordinance comes after commissioners learned an area of land just north of Armstrong was the site for a proposed Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, or CAFO.

Some residents have expressed concerns including odor, runoff and a decrease in their property values — in regard to the proposed site off County Road 242.

Presiding Commissioner Sam Stroupe said the ordinance would allow 5,000 hogs within three-quarters of a mile from existing homes. He said there are currently two or three homes within that distance.

Another part of the ordinance would require the CAFO to not come within two miles of a “populated area,” which means 10 houses within a 1,400-foot radius. He said the city of Armstrong sits in that two-mile area.

Stroupe said the Department of Natural Resources allows 17,500 hogs within a half-mile of existing homes.

The commission is scheduled to vote on the drafted health ordinance at its meeting Monday morning.