WASHBURN - A request for a feedlot operation northeast of Washburn served to illustrate both the politics of animals and the politics of the Legislature.

The McLean County Zoning Commission found itself in the position of only being able to approve a request for a 1,000-head feedlot on Mark Giedd's place because a new state law says the local government's only job is to make sure the right procedures are followed.

In this case, Giedd is making an application with the State Health Department, which will come up with a manure waste and dead carcass system that he will have to follow.

McLean County State's Attorney Ladd Erickson said the new law means local zoners can't say "no," even if they want to, to operations this size.

"If it were 10,000 hogs, you'd be in the same boat," Erickson told the zoners Monday. "The Legislature keeps saying to local governments, 'We don't trust your judgment,'" Erickson said.

It didn't appear the zoners would have said "no" anyway to Giedd, who wants to expand his 500-operation.

He's using corn mash from the Blue Flint Ethanol plant for feed. McLean County developers are looking at a much larger-scale feedlot that would potentially be developed to take advantage of the corn that has feed and weight-gain value to cow feeders.

Giedd told the zoners he wanted to get into a regulated feedlot operation because it's simpler and he could get planning help from the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Stockmen's Association.

One of his neighbors, though, objected to Giedd's request, saying his animal management practices now are bad and could get worse with more animals.

Marlin Leidholm had several pictures of dead calves, cow and bull carcasses to show the zoners. Some were pictured in a garbage pit, flies buzzing, and others were out on the grass.

Leidholm said he wasn't sure how many dead animals were in the garbage pit.

"This is totally disgusting, and you're talking today about more cattle," Leidholm said.

Leidholm said Giedd's operation could have a negative effect on the value of Leidholm's property.

"He's a nice enough guy, but he's not a good neighbor," Leidholm said.

He had hired a small bus that was waiting outside the courthouse, but the zoners declined to take a tour to Giedd's farm.

Giedd said he was sorry he had been a bad neighbor and he said the feedlot management plan should make him a better one.

Another neighbor, Marvin Neumiller, said he thinks Giedd's plan will improve the opportunity for clean water and management of dead animals.

In approving a conditional use permit with a variance that lets him get closer than 300 feet to a drainage with his holding pond, zoning member Julie Hudson-Schnenfisch said it's important to support agriculture. At the same time, she encouraged Giedd to clean up his dead animals

Zoning member Neil Heringer said Giedd shouldn't forget his application drew a room full of concerned people and that he hoped Giedd would leave with a "better understanding" of his neighbor's position.

(Reach reporter Lauren Donovan at 888-303-5511 or lauren@;westriv.com.)