Cerro Gordo County gives final approval to livestock ordinance

A northern Iowa county now has an ordinance on the books that’d prevent construction of large-scale livestock confinements. The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the second and final reading of a one-year moratorium on the construction of animal confinements. Under the new ordinance, people seeking variances would first apply to the Cerro Gordo County Board of Health. That agency would weigh the request against a set of standards and then make a recommendation to the supervisors, who would have final say. Some farmers at last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting threatened a lawsuit, saying the new ordinance violates a newly passed state law that sets up new statewide procedures, regulations and fees for livestock operations.