NEWS

Saratoga appeals large-scale dairy decision

Karen Madden
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Town officials have decided to appeal a Wood County Circuit Court decision that would allow a proposed large-scale dairy to proceed.

SARATOGA – Town officials have decided to appeal a Wood County Circuit Court decision that would allow a proposed large-scale dairy to proceed.

The Wysocki Family of Cos. intends to construct the 7,000-acre Golden Sands Family Farm in the southeastern portion of Saratoga. The farm is expected to have 5,300 animals, which classifies it as a concentrated animal feeding operation, or CAFO.

The company won a Wood County Circuit Court case about whether Golden Sands had the right to use the land for agricultural purposes. On Monday, attorneys for Saratoga and town officials filed notice that the town is appealing the circuit court judge's decision.

After the company applied for building permits, Saratoga officials placed a moratorium on issuing permits until it could finish putting zoning in place for the town.

Wysocki officials filed a lawsuit and won the case against the town's building inspector, Lorelei Fuehrer, who refused to issue a building permit. The company officials also filed a suit against the town regarding the zoning restrictions put in place in November 2012.

Company attorneys argued Golden Sands had a right to use the land for agricultural purposes because the building permits were filed and the Wysocki Family of Cos.' intentions were made clear before the town established zoning rules prohibiting agriculturist use of the property.

In March, Portage County Circuit Judge Thomas Eagon, acting as a substitute judge in the Wood County case, ruled that the company had a right to use the land for agriculture, which was permitted at the time the company applied for its permit. Eagon issued his written decision April 30.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is in the process of reviewing the environmental impact report for Golden Sands Dairy and its Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit application.

You can contact reporter Karen Madden at 715-423-7200, ext. 6729, karen.madden@cwnews.net or follow her on Twitter @KMadden715