By Melanie Stegner

news@pctribune.com

The Land and Resource Management Department presented a year in review as well as upcoming activities and proposals at last week’s Pope County “committee of the whole” meeting. Last year’s permitting activity was also reviewed, and portions of the floodplain, solid waste and land use controls ordinances were discussed.

Floodplain maps were last updated in 1987 and the ordinance was updated in 1993, so commissioners were told the ordinance will need to be updated this year. The solid waste ordinance also requires further discussion to determine next steps for its future amendments, it was stated.

A proposed change to the Guest Cottage and Guest Quarters section on the Land Use Controls Ordinance is that guest quarters shall not be utilized as an independent dwelling unit. It also defines an accessory dwelling unit as a smaller independent residential dwelling unit on the same parcel as a primary single family dwelling unit. A possible ordinance regarding wedding barns and event centers was also discussed.

CBD Retail Sales were discussed at a minimum with the need for an ordinance not carrying much weight. This will be addressed at a later time.

An update on invasive species in the county was presented and discussed. Photos of emerald ash borer exit holes, Eurasian watermilfoil and native watermilfoil, starry stonewort were viewed. “At this time, the emerald ash borer hasn’t been reported in Pope County, but chances are it’s here and we have a lot of ash trees,” stated Ralph Hanson with the Land and Resource Management Department. 

On July 11 of last year, a survey was done at the Starbuck Marina area of Lake Minnewaska to audit for starry stonewort. The area outside of the marina and public access at Starbuck was searched to determine if growth had occurred outside of the marina. Two rake surveyors and a diver sampled 256 sites in a broad area at the mouth of the marina. Starry stonewort was found at five sites in the marina. Starry stonewort was found at 10 sites in the open lake outside of the marina. “We did not find any starry stonewort in the area where a fragment was found in 2021,” according to the report. 

A copper sulfate treatment in the open lake could be considered in a 1.52-acre section. Commissioner Gremmels expressed concern over using chemicals in the lake as he is a victim of contaminated water from Camp LeJeune. “We need to make sure we have all of the documentation and have done all research before we put anything in the water,” he stated.

Ariel Hughes, Feedlot Officer with the Land and Resource Management office presented information on a proposed anaerobic digester for Malecha Farms. An AD takes animal waste and turns it in to usable materials such as bedding, fertilizers, heat, electricity and vehicle fuel. Methane emissions are directly reduced from the AD systems. Minnesota currently has 7 digesters. Three are in Stevens County and are used for 7,665 cows. These three digesters produce enough power for 1,491 homes. Permitting for the digesters is a lengthy process that involves the USEPA, MPCA, MN DNR, DoT and Pope County. Malecha will be coming to the planning commission with a complete proposal at a later date.