WHEREAS, air and water contamination stemming from factory livestock farms can significantly lower property values surrounding the facilities, therby reducing the tax base for the county; and,

WHEREAS, factory livestock farm development increases the stress on township and county roads requiring more taxes to pay for road maintenance; and,

WHEREAS, the local economic contribution of factory livestock farms is unknown; and,

WHEREAS, the county or township taxpayers are potentially responsible to pay for clean-up of an abandoned facility; and,

WHEREAS, unlike traditional farms, problems associated with factory livestock farms have included the depletion of water supply, contamination of groundwater, air contmination, and unplanned or inefficient waste management which leads to surface water contamination; and,

WHEREAS, the state laws concerning factory farms presently are inadequate in providing protection for the citizens of the State of Illinois.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the County Board of Fulton County, Illinois, that the location of factory livestock farms within the County is disfavored unless sufficient proof is presented that the environment would not be damaged or that the quiet and productive use of the land by neighboring residents will not suffer.

ADOPTED this 14th day of July, A.D. 1998.

[Signed]

Wanda L. Williams

Chairperson of Fulton County Board

ATTEST:

Ex-Officio Clerk of the Fulton County Board