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MACOMB, IL – A second large-scale hog farm is proposed for McDonough County. It's also encountering opposition from neighbors.
Barbara Adams lives just 3,000 feet from the site in the northwest part of the county. She lives just over the county line in Henderson County. She is afraid that will deny her a say in the permit process.
Adams told the board, "If they're going to build one they should live there."
She and her husband raised hogs before they retired.
She said, "We raised hogs ourselves and they were right by our house. We took care of it so they didn't smell for the neighbors."
Jackie and Dan Terrill live two miles from the site. They also told the board they oppose the facility.
Board member Earl Godt requested a public informational hearing. Several board members said they did not oppose the hearing. They preferred residents petition for the meeting. Godt's motion passed by a 14-6 vote.
The department will schedule the public meeting within 30 days.
The county board will have a chance to pass a non-binding resolution after the informational hearing.
Earlier this year, McDonough County farmer Larry O'Hern applied for a permit from the Illinois Department of Agriculture for a large-scale hog farm in the southeast part of the county. The department has not ruled on that application.