To the Editor:

Are you disgusted by your “good neighbors” — all those animal confinements? Sickened by the manure smells?

Worried about the volumes of water needed to maintain the animals, buildings, and trucks and trailers used to haul them? Worried about the quality of the water in our streams, rivers, ponds (and wonder why so many beaches are being closed?) Damage to roads … loss of property value … worsening health of yourself and family?

If any of this is of concern to you, please attend the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors meeting at the courthouse on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.

Iowa Select hog farms has submitted applications for 5 more CAFOs in Hamilton County alone with additional sites in other counties. That adds up to nearly 25,000 more hogs housed in just those 5 sites.

The Supervisors need to hear your concerns. If they don’t hear anything at all from anyone, they simply assume that we all agree and are fine with having these “neighbors.” Tell them otherwise. Let them know that this is infringing on our quality of life, our health, our financial resources, our recreational opportunities.

Also consider attending:

• Wright County Board of Supervisors meeting at Clarion, Nov. 13, 9:30 a.m. (Iowa Select applications for 2 CAFOs, housing 10,000 head of hogs);

• Webster County, Fort Dodge, Nov. 14, 10 a.m (Iowa Select applications for 3 CAFOs housing 17,500 head)

These CAFO applications go to the Board of Supervisors without any or very minimal notice to the surrounding residents or to the public in general. It’s not right, it’s not fair.

And let your state legislators know how you feel, too.

Kathy Carter

Williams