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Dog breeding operation apparently near approval No formal action taken on McDuffee application Staff Writer LITTLE FALLS - Indications are Gary McDuffee will get his permit to run a dog breeding operation called Waggin' Tails Kennel in Belle Prairie Township in Morrison County.
The Morrison County Board met Tuesday at the Morrison County Government Center in Little Falls to discuss whether it would approve a conditional use permit for McDuffee on the dog breeding operation.
The board discussed, for about two hours, 29 points of interest and questions regarding the application. The commissioners then answered seven questions on a conditional use permit voting sheet that would determine whether the application would be approved or not. On the voting sheet, it states that "if all the answers are yes by a majority of the board, the criteria for granting the permit would be met." The five commissioners answered yes to all the questions, except one commissioner who said no to one question.
Commissioner Don Meyer didn't agree with the question that said the permit won't create an unreasonably adverse affect because of noise, odor, glare or general unsightliness for nearby property owners. Meyer did vote yes to the other six questions.
As a result, a majority of the questions the commissioners answered were yes, meaning the permit for the application will be approved. However, the county board did not take formal action on the application. The board will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday at the government center to vote on the application.
Morrison County Administrator Tim Houle said the final vote was moved to Thursday to give county staff time to draft the findings of fact to support approval of the application, which include 14 special conditions that the county board agreed to add to the application. Houle said the county is proceeding with caution to make sure every step of the application process is followed to eliminate mistakes.
The county board first approved the original permit on Jan. 10, 2006. Shortly after the approval there was an explosion of attention over the dog kennel operation from people, including several animal rights groups, across the nation.
That led to two lawsuits against the county.
The county board was forced to reconsider its decision on the application after a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling found that the board didn't follow correct procedure when it issued an amended conditional use permit to McDuffee. The board conducted the public hearing March 27 before nearly 200 people.
The special conditions the county board recommended include:
¥ Limiting the number of adult breeding dogs to 500, not 600 as originally requested.
¥ Having an indoor exercise area for the dogs that is one-sixth the size of the building.
¥ Debarking the dogs won't be allowed and no shock collars can be used.
¥ Requiring an annual inspection by the county. McDuffee would be given a 24-hour notice.
Meyer said there are a lot of restrictions on the application that will serve as safeguards.
"We're not going to satisfy everyone," Meyer said. "This is a painful thing ... It is what it is and I'm satisfied that we took a hard look at everything."
Commissioners Gene Young and Tom Wenzel said they put in a lot of time considering this application.
Young said, "It's tough to sit in this chair."
Commissioners Jeff Schilling and Duane Johnson said they wanted to see fewer dogs at the sight, but agreed to allow 500 dogs.
McDuffee declined to comment after the meeting. He referred all questions to his attorney.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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