Cattle pen hearing set for Thursday

BY ANDREW WALTERS SVN REPORTER awalters@svnmail.com The Illinois Department of Agriculture will have a hearing Thursday in Morrison to discuss a proposed cattle management facility to be built north of Morrison. The project, which is being proposed by Elwyn Nice of Nice Valley Beef, would house 2,700 animals that would be fed and raised on site. The location is about six miles north of Morrison just off state Route 78. The Whiteside County Board has appointed a four-person ad hoc committee to attend the hearing. The committee will give consideration to the project and then offer the county board a recommendation on the proposal. The hearing will cover subjects such as proper licensing, waste management, environmental effects and whether the location is appropriate for such a livestock operation. According to Mike Zurn, Whiteside County administrator, the meeting will present members of the general public with the opportunity to ask questions and state their opinions about the project.