TOWN OF ROCKLAND, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A public hearing was held in Brown County Monday. People around the town of Rockland voiced their opinion about a potential, private 2 million-gallon manure digester storage pit.
But the measure failed by a three to zero vote, with the town board denying the company’s request for a conditional use application.
“I support the farmers. But when I’ve got that pit that’s even a thousand yards and the wind blows from west to east, I’m not going to be able to sit on my front porch,” said one Rockland resident.
The majority of residents who packed the Rockland Town Hall had strong opinions about a manure pit that New Horizons Dairy, LLC is proposing for its property and use.
New Horizons Dairy says the 40-acre manure digester storage pit would benefit the area.
“If we are allowed to put the storage pit on our site, on our property, the trucks will be off the road and unloading into the pit,” said David Van De Hey, owner of New Horizons Dairy.
“We don’t have to go past the four schools twice,” said Van De Hey, “We want to put less miles on the road. We want to do it safer, and we want to do a better job at it.”
Van De Hey says his farm only has good intentions for the storage pit. He wants the waste from his 2,000 cattle to be put to good and efficient use.
“We can bring the product directly here the first time. We would have a better opportunity to use it when and where we need it at the proper timing.”
Van De Hey’s attempts to clarify didn’t change any minds; residents were persistent that the pit would be a wrong choice.
“Now, you’re asking to put something — yes, the smell may be reduced, but when you get a couple of million gallons, it sits in the sun, it cooks and condenses. Can you guarantee that that’s not going to affect our home values?” said another Rockland resident.
“What will New Horizons Dairy do if this proposal fails?” asked FOX 11.
“We’ll have to look into that. I don’t want to say I’ll take it into legal matters, but I will look into what the town rulings actually have control over and what they don’t,” said Van De Hey, “The agricultural land has been there and been there for the last 200 years, and it still will be there tomorrow.”
New Horizons Dairy can still develop a revised plan and bring it to the town board again.
But for now, Rockland’s town clerk considers the matter closed.
