| The Grand Forks County Commission decided to table the special-use
permit that would allow Tom Brule to deposit sugar beet pulp and
tailings on a section of land north of Grand Forks.
Tom Brule, a Gentilly, Minn., farmer and owner of Thomas Brule
Trucking LLC, asked the commission for a special-use permit so he
could spread byproducts of the sugar-making process onto a 140-acre
site. The pulp would be spread out in the winter and plowed under
the soil in the spring.
The Grand Forks County Planning and Zoning Commission sent its
approval of the special permit to the commission, but the commission
initially voted it down.
Tuesday, the commission voted to grant the special-use permit.
Thursday, the commission held a special meeting so members could
hear from concerned county residents.
Residents who live near the site don't want the byproducts
deposited near them because they are worried about any odor, flies
or an increase in traffic in the area.
Ranchers said they were worried they won't be able to get beet
tailings and pulp delivered to their farms for livestock feed.
Commissioner Connie Triplett moved to table the discussion until
the regular meeting. That meeting will be held at 4 p.m. March 6 in
commission chambers on the sixth floor of the County Office
Building.
Brule agreed not to start dumping on that site until after the
March 6 meeting. |