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Wetland Act violated
County board denies exemption
Published 12:00 p.m., April 8, 2009
Otter Tail commissioners grappled with a technical question of categorizing a wetland for nearly two hours Tuesday while conducting a proceeding on a Wetlands Conservation Act (WCA) violation.
The Otter Tail Board of Commissioners denied a request for an exemption under Minnesota’s WCA. By denying the request, the issue now goes to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources for review.
David Stock, of Aastad Township, was found by the county’s technical evaluation panel (TEP) to be in violation of WCA after a complaint was received that he was filling in a wetland in 2007.
Stock was requesting the county grant him an exemption to WCA for land that was farmed six out of 10 years before 1991, when WCA was legislatively created.
However, a later rule limits the statute’s exemption to two out of the eight types of wetland. The TEP found the portion of land in question to not be one of the two types.
Attorney Josh Heggem, representing Stock at Tuesday’s meeting, asked the commissioners to find that the WCA exemption from 1991 applies. However, if the commissioners found that the rule applied instead of the statute, Heggem asked that they find the land is one of the two types exempt.
Stock said the land was farmed nine out of the 10 years, which left commissioners questioning how a wetland could be farmed for that many years.
“I ask the commissioners to have the courage to step forward and say, ‘Yes this was farmed,’” Stock said.
Commmissioner John Lindquist questioned whether the county could receive an outside review on the type of wetland while Commissioner Lee Rogness said he was in favor of using the local resources in determining what type of wetland the disputed land is. Rogness also pointed out that the commissioners aren’t experts on the different types of wetlands.
Steve Hofstad, wetland specialist with BWSR, pointed out that as the local government unit, the county should decide based on information the commissioners received from the West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District (WOTSWCD) staff. He added that the county board is under a time limit of 60 days in making a decision.
Commissioners also heard Stock’s disappointment in the government entities involved. He stated that he communicating with staff from BWSR and WOTSWCD was lacking.
“People chose to make us a target rather than work with us,” Stock said, adding that he felt violated by the rules.
Brad Mergens of WOTSWCD said in response that a letter had been sent to Stock stating that he hadn’t been heard from and in addition, Stock did meet with the TEP.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by local9 (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://farm.ewg.org/farm/top_recips.php?...
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
local9, whats that got to do with the above story? NOTHING thats what.
Posted by akmscott (Mike Scott) on April 8, 2009 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If it's been farmed-its farm land!
Posted by local9 (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing to do with the above story? How about calling out someone who obviously is intelligent enough to take advantage of farm programs, how to use corporate law in order to form companies to further his share of the welfare pie (see #4 on the list), and to run a major agriculture organization.
Then, when it comes to reading rules and regulations about filling in wetlands, he plays dumb and claims that there is a lack of communication? On top of that, it sounds like he will have no consequences. Give me a break.
That's what it has to do with the above story.
Posted by ferguslifer (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As being a land owner myself. I have seen the water table of OTC go extremely high over the last 15 years. Lots of productive farmland is underwater.
The RULE APPLYS! PERIOD.
Posted by goingfishing (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The consequences can be a lot more serious than anybody posting knows. A violation, if upheld, could eliminate participation in the farm programs. And, not being in the farm program means that no crop insurance could be purchased. A very dry year, a hail year, a wet year, could all be career threatening.
Posted by mgdbottled (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, hopefully Obama will end these welfare payments to millionaire farmers. At least he said he would during the campaign. This farm program has been distorted and twisted so bad that the small farmers who need the assistance get very little. Most of the assistance goes to millionaires. Typical in America.
Posted by Newshound (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll concede, it IS very hard to work up a big load of anguish over these guys who suck in a half-million or a million or more as "poor farmers". Lets face it-the small farmer is becomning a rarity and if they need financial help they are the least likely to get it. If Pres. Obama can actually change the nonsensical and corrupt farce regarding farm subsidies he will save this country BILLIONS of dollars. Maybe that money can get some medical care for those poor souls who have no hope for their sick kids or grandparents.
Now THAT is a national disgrace!
Posted by metasonics (Jamie Cooper) on April 9, 2009 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rising water levels? oh come on, farm subsidies supporting republicans don't believe in things like "global warming" or "rising water levels".
sounds like made up science.
now go cry yourself to sleep on your million and a half dollar pillows.
lol
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Much of the farm program money goes to food stamps for the 'poor'.
Posted by werty (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those people could classify a puddle that has had water in it for 2 hours a wetland.
Posted by walleye (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy gives farmers a bad name, he has been doing this type of activity for years and always walks away with a slap on the hand, it is time for him to get some punishment. He also is involved in numerous other entities that he uses to his advantage. As a Farmer I want the public to know that what the Farm Program does is that it insures the Public with a safe, quality, and cheap food, and that what the Farmers actually receive is a small percentage of the total Farm Program. Food Stamps and public nutrition programs are the biggest part of the program. As for payments should only go to small producers, big producers also have payments to make, it is all relative to the size of operations. If they cancel the farm program that would be fine by me, working with government isn't always the easiest to do, but expect more of your paycheck to go toward food if that happens!!
Posted by werty (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Last fall when I drained my kids 10 foot plastic spongebob pool the WCA slaped with me draining a wetland because it classified as having water for an extended period and being able to produce a wave.
Posted by proterrorist (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"hopefully Obama will end these welfare payments to millionaire farmers"- but subsidizing wealthy people is the American way. The real scourge is all of the poor minorities who rely on government assistance. They are taking money that could be going to wealthy folk.
Posted by cascade (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For years the government (federal and local) encouraged farmers to utilize all of their potentially tillable land with a net result of the loss of about 90% + of our wetlands. I would guess that said "farmer" has hundreds of such wetlands on the land he works that were inherited and drained years and years ago. I do think the law (however flawed) needs to be followed, as the remaining wetlands are too valuable to be abused or even lose.
Posted by metasonics (Jamie Cooper) on April 9, 2009 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
while farm subsidized land sits empty, 45,000 children starve to death every month. this just part of the human cost of the perceived need to make profits.
the perceived need to maximize profits always takes higher priority than human interests in our current system.
if there is no profit to be made from fixing a problem we face, the problem continues unabated. the profit based system is immoral and insane!
it does not best serve mankind!
the motive for farm subsidies is to keep the food prices higher and therefore more profitable, this is the same reason the oil and coal industries have kept Geo-thermal energy producing systems from us, the same reason the electric car was held back.
how will corporations like ottertail power cope when they are forced to purchase completely clean excess energy from everyone on the grid who has a electric car? thats the part most people don't realize.
some electric cars produce more energy than they use. by law power companies are forced to buy and clean produced energy from their customers. electric cars will put power, coal and oil companies out of business.
how does it make you feel when you realize that we were manipulated into a war, over an obsolete energy source?
this is why the rich fear redistribution of wealth.
redistribution of wealth means real democracy and an end to the tyranny of the rich.
over 10 people are unemployed for every job in this state.
the greed of the rich to maximize profits will continue to build automated systems like "redbox" and automated checkouts.
eventually there will be so few people with jobs, there will be no one left to buy the products.
once mankind realizes that we don't need to compete for resources against each other, or hold back technology for selfish gains, we will finally be free.
only when all this planets abundance are shared equally with all this worlds inhabitants can we say there is intelligent life in earth.
persons in over 70 countries have already realized this future and have joined together in an organized movement called the zeitgeist movement.
for more information go to www.thezeitgeistmovement.com
Posted by brentrice1 (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Metasonics- Two suggestions: Spell-check, and grammar-check.
P.S. (this means post scriptum--of course I am sure you already know this, what with your IQ of 174) Where is the energy acquired to charge these magical electric cars?
Posted by ferguslifer (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 10:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Water Table in OTC is up. Go check out Pebble lake. Where was the old playground equipment at Delagoon Park? Where is the long sand beach of Pebble beach? How many Roads have taken over lakes and slough alongside them. ?? I have old plat books, that show many old pics of these lakes when they were much smaller.
Posted by metasonics (Jamie Cooper) on April 10, 2009 at 2:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
brentrice1, speelcheck, grammar check? why bother? yyou understood the post, so mission accomplished.
as for "magical electric cars", must you be spoonfed everything?
allright! I'll do the work for you again because I'm so lazy.
first I will mention that the solar option available on the next generation of the "tesla motors" cars are specifically being added to make these vehicles generate more power than they use.
being that I should assume you may not be able to seek out and read on your own I will provide links to videos about the vehicle to grid energy processes and even working real world examples already in use.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5639ceWg0...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfZ2aBW0i...
I was going to look for more links but then that lazy factor came back.
I understand to the primitive mind, modern technology might seem like magic, that doesn't make it so.
the electric car isn't even all that modern. instead of more about electric cars I will provide a link to projects anyone can make at home that generate free clean energy.
http://www.energeticforum.com/renewable-...
Posted by Sioux27 (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do any of you guys think that this is the first time Stock has drained a wetland? Ask some of his landlords. He has a track record of being above the law.
Posted by ajohnsonx (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cooper,
I read your "zeitgeist movement" propaganda and it's suggestion to do away with the monetary system is completely unrealistic. A transition into a non-monetary society would take thousands of years to perfect, and you and I will be long gone before that would ever take affect. Maybe you should stop complaining about your sarcoidosis and get a job and contribute to society and enjoy an "earned" paycheck. Maybe then you'll understand that the monetary system isn't as corrupt as you think when you are responsible for making your own wages.
Posted by metasonics (Jamie Cooper) on April 10, 2009 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ajohnsonx, like I said before, in this system of manufactured scarcity and perpetual slavery, there are no need for masters to whip the slaves into submission, other slaves like "ajohnsonx" are more than willing to attack any who step out of line or aren't able to meet the demands of the ruling class.
whats unrealistic is to think a system that rewards treachery with a lavish lifestyle born off the backs of the poor while 45,000 children starve to death every month, and energy is produced from burning a diminishing pool of toxic substances is sustainable.
like it or not "change is inevitable".
in a state where there are 10 people out of work for every job, I'd like to hear your solution.
better yet, I'd like to hear where you are employed?
where are you employed by the way? do you even have a job?
the transition into a non-monetary based economy will happen whether you or I support it or not.
the only reason anyone is employed right now is because either they own their own business or their masters haven't found a machine to replace them yet.
it is only a matter of time before the desire to maximize profits will leave almost everyone unemployed.
the electric cars will hurt the oil industries, renewable clean energy will hurt the energy industries, automated systems are already replacing many people.
the transition to a resource based economy will most likely happen quickly.
I know your cave man mentality is very resistant to change, and luckily for mankind, you are a dying breed.
the revolution is unstoppable.
there are very few things in life as frustrating as a having to deal with a disease like sarcoidosis. the loss of a loved one to the grave is in the same ballpark.
it's a miserable situation to no longer be able to participate like I used to, and with persons like you to kick me while I'm down, it just makes it worse and proves my point.
in this system, human interests always rank lower than the desire to make profits.
ajohnsonx is a perfect example of the corruption inherent in the current economic system.
without his perceived need to make profits and his notion that those who aren't in his current economic situation, are somehow stealing from him or just crybabies, he would have most likely never grown to be so callous.
in a saner system that embraced the strengths each person has, there's no telling how much better "ajohnsonx" may have been, he may have been a compassionate caring person with many rewarding relationships and been allowed to pursue the interests nature gave him. he may have discovered a cure for cancer or found a way to feed the 45,000 children who starve to death every month.
instead he is forced into a job that obviously doesn't satisfy his ego, and so he looks to find fault in others, even to the point of attacking people for being less fortunate than himself.
Posted by metasonics (Jamie Cooper) on April 10, 2009 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
no one asks for chronic debilitating illness.
just as I'm sure "ajohnsonx" didn't imagine himself being the hate mongering ignorant adult he is is now as a young child.
the 45,000 children who die each month don't starve to death because of scarcity, they starve to death because of their lack of purchasing power.
they die while our farmers are paid not to grow anything.
and you feel there is nothing corrupt in that?
Posted by Bcannell (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cooper, when all you do is insult other people and call them names no one takes you seriously. You have become a bad joke.
Posted by bucksteel (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Metasonics - Please explain to me how 10 people are out of work for every person that has a job. If we have 10% unemployment in our state, that is 1 person out of work for every 9 that have a job. Are you really that bad at math?
Posted by 89Heritage (anonymous) on April 12, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Republican farm programs? Do you know what DFL Stands for? obama's going to stop giving millions to rich farmers? Unlikely. If he does,its only because he gave all our money to the rich people of banking,Insurance, UAW, The auto industries, medical industries, foreigners, foreign countries, all the generational poor, lazy welfare dependent people the democratic policies have created over the years. ACORN Ect.. You know, the people who bought his presidency for him. The same people we are finding tied to your heros like obama, reid, frank, dascel,pelosi,giuttner & the rest of the dirty non tax paying socialist libs that are the death of America. Metasonic, put down the bong, pull your head out & get a job. We working people are tired of taking care of you and the rest of the unproductive, un-American cancer monkeys that we have on our backs.
Posted by ajohnsonx (anonymous) on April 15, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Coop-
I do have a job, and I am not a "him" I am employed in the medical field, and do routine physical examinations on the human body. If you can tell me how that can be overtaken by a robot....I would like to hear your solution.
And please stop complaining about not being able to participate like you used to...your "condition" is obviously not debilitating enough to keep you from roaming around Mable Murphys. If you are healthy enough to go to the bar wearing gold chains and drinking beers, you are able enough to get a job.
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