MARSHALL — Lyon County commissioners approved permit requests for a pair of swine barns this week. One request was for the expansion of an existing barn south of Cottonwood, while the other request was for construction of a new swine barn in Amiret Township.

Commissioners took action on the two requests separately during their regular meeting Tuesday.

Lyon County Zoning Administrator John Biren said one conditional permit request was for the expansion of a swine barn owned by Jonathan and Carolyn Olson. The second permit request was for construction of a new feedlot for Boerboom Ag Resources.

The permit request from the Olsons said they were seeking to remodel a swine barn in Section 32 of Lucas Township, southwest of Cottonwood.

“This is an existing feedlot that they’re looking to expand,” Biren said. “Currently, they have 720 animal units, and they’re going to expand it to 1,260.” The final dimensions of the expanded barn would be about 102 feet by 248 feet, with an eight-foot deep concrete manure pit.

Biren said the Olsons’ feedlot would actually be issued a permit by the state of Minnesota. The state would also be reviewing plans for the concrete manure pit under the barn, and manure plans, he said.

“Our (permit) process is a prerequisite of the feedlot permit process for the state,” Biren said.

At a public hearing, the township supported the application, Biren said. Biren said he had not received any negative comments about the proposal.

Commissioners voted to approve the conditional use permit.

Commissioners discussed the permit request from Boerboom Ag Resources in a separate item of business. The request was for construction of a new swine feedlot in Section 26 of Amiret Township.

“There’s nothing on the site right now,” except possibly a well being dug, Biren said.

“At the end of the day they’re going to have 990 animal units,” Biren said of the proposed swine barn. The new swine barn would be approximately 122 feet by 221 feet, and have a concrete manure pit underneath that would be eight feet deep.

Biren said the new feedlot is also one that would be issued a state feedlot permit.

“Again, our process here, the notice for the neighbors and so forth, pacifies one of the (Minnesota State Pollution Control Agency) requirements,” he said.

Biren said there was one person with questions who attended a public hearing on the permit request. The person owned land neighboring the proposed feedlot site, and he wanted to know what impact the swine barn would have for any potential future home construction on his own property.

“What he was told at the meeting is that there’s a reciprocal setback,” Biren said. “Our minimum setback for a feedlot to a neighboring house is a quarter of a mile, so a new house would have to meet that setback as well.”

Biren said he told the neighbor that they could not talk a lot about variances unless the neighbor applies for one as a separate action from the feedlot permit.

“And you can’t really deny that permit because he might build a house?” asked Commissioner Thomas Andries.

“I would definitely say no,” Biren said. “I would not support that.”

Commissioners voted in favor of approving the CUP for Boerboom Ag Resources. Commissioner Rick Anderson abstained from voting.