The Adair County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) voted against recommending approval to the DNR, plans by two farms near Orient to expand their hog confinement operations. Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer told KJAN News their decision was based on scoring of the Master Matrix. She said the Board didn’t agree with the points taken on the Master Matrix application, and since there needs to be 440 points and 425 were allowed, it falls under the amount required for recommended approval.

The Geidel family wants to double each of two of their farming operations from 2,500 head to 5,000. Schaefer says failure to approve the Master Matrix application doesn’t mean the matter is decided. She says the Board of Supervisors don’t have all that much control over the matter. All they can do is to recommend the DNR approve or reject the application. The DNR can either affirm the Board’s recommendation and deny the expansion plans, or they can reject some or all of the points removed by the Board.

If the final number of points meets the requirement, the expansion plans can proceed.