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Egg Farm Stirs Controversy in Delta County

by KREX News Room
by Jordan Sherman

Story Created: Sep 4, 2012 at 7:59 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 4, 2012 at 9:38 PM MDT

DELTA, Colo.- Emotions filled an already packed courtroom Tuesday afternoon as supporters and opponents of the Western Slope Layers egg farm in Hotchkiss presented their case to the Delta County Commissioners.

The farm sits atop Powell Mesa just off of Powell Mesa Road in Hotchkiss. Some neighbors and business owners who reside in the area say their property values have taken a hit since the farm was built.

However, Karen Budd-Fallen, an attorney for the farm owned by Edwin Hostetler, submitted a report to the Delta County Commissioners stating the farm did not lower property value for homes and businesses.

Susan Raymond, a 28-year-neighbor of the Hostetlers, says it's the health and sanitation concerns that have her upset.

"Sinusitis, respiratory issues and runny eyes ... there's just a group of symptoms that go along with breathing dirt and dander and feathers," said Raymond.

Raymond says her anemometer has been collecting data over the summer proving that on most summer afternoons and evening the dust, dander and feather cloud kicked up by the chickens drifts over to her house.

"What is this white stuff flying around? I looked over at the screen and the feathers were actually coming through the screen," said Raymond as she was describing one room in her house that faces the farm.

NewsChannel 5 was able to contact the owner of the farm, Edwin Hostetler, via phone; however, he declined to issue an official statement.

Hostetler, however, did say, "I will do whatever the county commissioners want me to do."

The Delta County Commissioners will be reviewing the evidence and claims brought to them during Tuesday afternoon's meeting and will then make a decision to either shut down the farm, let the farm operate as is or let the farm operate under conditional guidelines.

There is no word at this point as to when that decision will be made and no further hearings have been scheduled.

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SinupretSa said on Thursday, Nov 1 at 5:19 AM

Pet dander, dust and so on do cause a lot of sinus problems and workers cannot be expected to work in such condition but these are the kind of allergens that can be cleaned and taken care of.

L Bear said on Friday, Sep 7 at 2:07 PM

I worked on a chicken farm in Utah. The chicken houses there were so clean you could eat off the floor, and no dust either.

LMH said on Wednesday, Sep 5 at 7:00 AM

Why has this "dust" issue not been raised at the other chicken farms in the area? Nothing being said about them, just these two in an area that those with the "I have mine, you can't have yours" attitude is very active.

Mt Hermit said on Wednesday, Sep 5 at 6:52 AM

This industrial operation is inappropriately located in a residential area. There are many other sites that would not impact residences, and this is where the egg operation should be relocated to. We have a small chicken house and the dust is fine powder and choking if stirred up. The giant fans at Hostetler's likely spew a large volume of microscopic, dust which is detrimental to health. I doubt Delta County can effectively monitor and regulate this - it is a no brainer that it must be moved, regardless of the political consequences.

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