Richland Township vs. KENOMA LLC, Part II

The Lamar Democrat reports that, the dispute between the Richland Township Board and Kenoma LLC entered Barton County Circuit Court, Monday, July 9, 2007, as the board filed a petition for a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief. Kenoma LLC is in the process of constructing a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) on Southeast 60th Road but has not reached the point of installing concrete structures. The township board alleges the intended project of Kenoma LLC is in violation of provisions of Section 5 of the township’s planning and zoning handbook, adopted April 30, 2007 and amended May 21, 2007.

During the hearing before Circuit Judge James Bickel, Kenoma LLC contended that Missouri law prohibits townships from regulating farm buildings or farm structures. A case from Putnam County ending in the Missouri Supreme Court was cited in which finishing buildings and livestock sewage lagoons were defined as farm structures. Richland Township is represented by attorney John Price of Springfield. Kenoma LLC’s legal counsel is Robert Brundage of Jefferson City. Judge Bickel took the case under advisement and indicated that a decision on issuing a temporary restraining order may be expected by Wednesday, July 11. The court set August 1 for a hearing on a petition for a preliminary injunction.

Arrow Rock Public Information Meeting July 19 @ 5:00pm

The Columbia Tribune, Sunday, July 1, reported that CAFO debates prompt agency to call meeting. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has scheduled a July 19 meeting in the cafeteria of Marshall High School. The meeting would begin at 5 p.m., when invited organizations such as the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will staff information booths, said MDNR spokeswoman Renee Bungart. At 6:30, MDNR representatives will give a short presentation that gives an overview of how CAFOs work and how Dennis Gessling has proposed to operate his," she said. Dennis Gessling’s filed his CAFO application in January 2007 to construct a 4,800-head hog farm, in close proximity to Arrow Rock, a national historic landmark. Department representatives will be available to answer questions until 8 p.m. that night, according to a news release.

MDNR News Release No. 276, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HOSTS PUBLIC MEETING FOR GESSLING PERMIT JULY 19 IN MARSHALL