A farmer northeast of Sarto has been slapped a $25,000 fine by council for the Rural Municipality of Hanover.

Pat Smith, owner of Canada Sheep and Lamb Farms Ltd. appeared before council concerning a conditional use and variance order application. At the hearing, it was noted Smith runs an operation that has been approved for up to 900 ewes. Yet that flock has swelled to 3,200 ewes. Furthermore, it was recently discovered Smith had begun construction on a 24,192 square foot addition to his barn worth $1.25 million. That work was being done without any development permits.

According to Smith, he ran out of space because his ewe flocks continued to grow. Smith stated he deliberately began construction without a permit because overpopulation of his flock was resulting in excessive mortality rates. Smith mentioned the only other way to handle the flock would be to cull it.

"You never went to our staff and asked what can we do about this," noted Hanover Reeve Stan Toews. "Poor planning doesn't constitute an emergency."

Present at the public hearing were many neighbours who voiced concern over the impact the growth of this farm would have on the area. Neighbours expressed concern over noise pollution, noting the farm gets extremely loud at feeding time. Other concerns were odour and the increase in flies with the expansion of this farm. There were also concerns over property values dropping, roads deteriorating with the additional traffic and the potential impact on the water table and/or quality of water.

"You put council in a tough predicament," stated Toews. "You knew we had a building permit process."

Hanover council approved the conditional use and variance order, but at a cost. Based on the proposal's merit, the municipality granted permission to expand the existing livestock production operation to 4,000 ewes and 2,100 lambs up to ten weeks in age. Toews says they are also approving the barn expansion because it's already there.

However, Smith has been ordered to pay a penalty of $25,000 for the unauthorized barn construction. The payment must be made prior to being issued a development permit and prior to the stop work order being removed. Hanover is also requiring an annual inspection, at the sole expense of Smith, by a third party veterinarian confirming the number of animals on the property. And finally, the applicant must make a one-time financial contribution to the municipality towards the upgrading of Road 28N, the designated haul route. The contribution will be the equivalent cost of 1000 MT of A-Base aggregate.

"I think word has to be out there that you should talk to the RM before you build all this stuff," says Toews.