Blackshirt Feeders applies for new CUP at new site

After six months of public hearings and meetings to get a conditional use permit for a 100,000-head feedlot, Blackshirt Feeders is starting the process over.
Throughout the hearings that began in February, the proposed feedlot faced concerns over homes in the area, water usage and the amount of traffic county roads could handle.
Located in Dundy County, but bordering Chase County, people also were concerned about housing the influx of possible feedlot employees, especially in Imperial.
With all the conditions met on its application for a conditional use permit, Blackshirt Feeders was granted the CUP by the Dundy County commissioners on June 6.
Despite having that CUP in hand, Blackshirt Feeders has applied for a new CUP in a new location.
“It is crucial to Blackshirt Feeders that we are good neighbors,” Blackshirt Feeders managing partner Eric Behlke told the Benkelman Post.
“We heard the concerns from those who spoke at public hearings, and we have been provided the opportunity to change our plan in an effort to address those concerns and serve the greater good,” Behlke was quoted as saying.
The new application comes with significant changes.
To be located west of Haigler along the Colorado state line, the new plant will include a methane digester. To make that feasible, the proposed capacity of the feedlot went from 100,000 head to 150,000 head. The cost of the project has also risen to $200 million with the addition of the methane digester and the estimated number of employees growing to 127.
The methane produced will be sold as renewable energy, and the remaining manure product can be used as fertilizer.
Access to the proposed facility will be 4 miles of roads in Colorado, then approximately 1/4 mile in Nebraska. The new CUP application says the Dundy County road will be blacktopped by Blackshirt Feeders. The CUP also says Blackshirt Feeders will be responsible for working out a road agreement with Yuma County, Colorado, and local neighbors in Colorado.
No residences are located within 2 miles of the site, and there are two within 3 miles.
A Zoning Consent Agreement and a Nutrient Application Agreement have been signed by Spuds & Suds LLC manager Brandon Larson. A map included with the CUP shows 24 pivots for nutrient application.
At the previous site, Blackshirt Feeders anticipated $211,933 in taxes, and $132,715 would have gone to Chase County Schools. With the new location, all tax dollars will stay in Dundy County.
The Dundy County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the new application Monday at 1:30 p.m.