The proposed dairy CAFO made headlines last spring for Democrat Township, and I have researched on-line off and on since. I have more thoughts and questions than ever. What sites do I concentrate on? I look at universities, government, health, and agricultural sites.

The Journal & Courier had an article on Feb. 19, 2007, "Purdue Forms Setback Models for CAFOs." They are presently involved in an air emissions (air pollutants) study. The air pollutants listed in descending order of importance were: odor, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter, greenhouse gases, and volatile organic compounds.

The three lagoons at this proposed dairy CAFO total approximately 15.75 acres. At the Jan. 31, 2007, IDEM informational meeting, we were told that these lagoons would seep approximately 380 gallons per acre per day, which is actually one-third less than required. Does this approximate 5,985 gallons of lagoon waste mixture become purified as it goes through the ground? Or is it a continual saturation of "waste" going down to the aquifer?

I glanced back at the Carroll County Comet's front page article from June 21, 2006, "Commissioners hold debate on mega-dairy," and found that nothing is really different. We've talked, the county commissioners are to be thanked for giving us that forum. But, dialogue that needed to really go on - that sit down with a cup of coffee and really talk - has happened with only a few. In that article from 2006, there was this quoted statement, "suggested those who are planning to purchase land and build the dairy should be available to county residents to provide answers to their questions. The people who own this and are going to run this need to come into this room."

I went to the fair but found an empty booth with pamphlets. I've attended many of the commissioners meetings and was there when the Vreba-Hoff spokesperson and the North Point engineer were there. It was not a situation for true give and take. At another commissioners meeting I understand that the Arendsens were there, and it was more of "meeting them" than true dialogue.

Another quoted statement in that 2006 article was, "There is a lot of emotion around dairy CAFOs. We want to take the emotion out of this and get the facts." It has been an emotional rollercoaster to obtain the facts. Emotion has certainly not been one-sided.

The concern is everyone's clean air, clean water, health, and livelihood. Helen Stoops           Cutler