Magnolia official offering to pay for court case
Photo 
David Olsen
MAGNOLIA TOWNSHIP — Town of Magnolia board member Dave Olsen said he's ready to contribute personal funds so the town can defend a case before the state Supreme Court.
"I will definitely get my checkbook out with my $10,000, and I think it will be the best money I've ever spent," he said Thursday.
The Gazette reported Thursday that the high court decided it would hear the town's case regarding a conditional-use permit at Larson Acres, the county's largest dairy farm.
The case revolves around conditions the town placed on the farm's permit in 2007 to protect groundwater.
The farm says the town is trying to micromanage the farm.
Olsen was unavailable for comment Wednesday, when Chairwoman Fern McCoy said she didn't want to spend any more town money on the case.
In July, the town board agreed to spend $2,000 to file a petition asking the Supreme Court to take the case.
Town board member Kurt Bartlett said he agreed to go ahead with the case if Olsen could commit to the town raising at least $10,000 in a new bank account by the time the Supreme Court decided whether it would hear the case.
That day is here, and Olsen said no account has been set up, but he will be talking to town attorney Glenn Reynolds about how to set one up.
"I have not accepted any money from anybody else, although I have been offered money by people," Olsen said, declining to say how much or who had offered him money.
He said he would like to set up an account that would allow anonymous donations.
He guessed it would cost the town less than $20,000 in legal fees to take the case through the Supreme Court.
He approves spending a "very small amount" of town money but said he is confident fundraising would provide all the needed funds.
"I think I'm confident other people will really see how important this issue is for not only the town of Magnolia but the whole environment of Wisconsin," he said.
The town has 30 days to file a brief to the Supreme Court.
The board will be scheduling a meeting with Reynolds to decide how to proceed, Olsen said.
Feb 17, 2011 at 8:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
I eat a ton of free range meat! My freezer is stuffed and I'm too fat for my swimsuit !
I don't care where the Larson's live- there are TOO MANY NITRATES IN THE WATER!!!If they want to bathe and consume their water thats their right- let others have their own choice.
Jealous of what???His lack of brains?? This has EVERYTHING to do with health and safety. Why does he need to expand again????Not making enough money per hundred weight because there is TOO MUCH MILK???
Feb 17, 2011 at 3:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
Do you know the Larsen family lives right next to their operations? Your activist-laden 'facts' are full of untruths and only used to push an anti-meat agenda. These operations are under intense scrutiny from inspectors. This has nothing to do with health and safety. This is about jelousy and fighting in a 'small town' mentality.
Feb 17, 2011 at 11:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Olsen - never drop this case...The nitrate levels are unacceptable! They will only get worse. How many dead lakes and rivers do we need? How many $$$ can you get a LLC-Limited Liability Corporation to pay for clean ups and new wells?Only a thousand bucks! Fight like crazy Magnolia Township!**
***HOMES informational meeting-“When a Mega Dairy Comes in”, is being held at the Clock Tower Resort in Rockford IL. on Monday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. Featured speakers will be:
John E. Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Since retiring from the University in early 2000, Ikerd spends most of his time writing and speaking out on issues related to sustainable agriculture with an emphasis on the economics of sustainability. John has published several books including, Sustainable Capitalism: A Matter of Common Sense, Small Farms are Real Farms: Sustaining People Through Agriculture, Return to Common Sense, Crisis and Opportunity: Sustainability in American Agriculture.
Daniel Imhoff is the editor of The CAFO Reader: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories and the photo-format companion volume, CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation): The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories. He is a writer and independent publisher whose many books include Food Fight, Farming with the Wild, Paper or Plastic, Building with Vision, and Farming and the Fate of Wild Nature.
Open to the public, free admission.
Feb 16, 2011 at 5:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
Sure, Olsen says he will pay and then backpedals. I will believe it when I see it. Drop this case now and move on. I wish someone could get these people out of office, but obviously money talks.
Feb 13, 2011 at 3:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
labworker-maybe you shouldn't assume so much- you know what happens to you and me....I am NOT a city slicker.We have plenty of excellant dairy production already. Maybe YOU need to re-locate to California so you can have your cheap milk. Don't overdo the dairy- remember the other food groups.You give cheeseheads a bad name.
Feb 13, 2011 at 2:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
Yeah there is not right know but what if every city slicker like you and Mr. Olsen put a stop to all big farms. There will not be any. So yeah pick it up. we dont need farms in wisconsin. Happy cow are from cal. ship all farms out there and then pay the higher price on milk.
Feb 12, 2011 at 10:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
Labworker- Mr. Olsen is trying to protect the growing number of citizens who have unsafe nitrate levels in there drinking water. No use to having farming and good water going down the tubes....You sure enjoy judging what Mr. Olsen does with his money.THERE IS NO MILK SHORTAGE! Thank you Mr. Olsen for caring about the future environment for our children.
Feb 11, 2011 at 4:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
what a sad day for magolai township. Mr Olsen maybe if your town cant pay the bill then you shouldnt be taking them to court. You need to be removed. Get a clue farming is going down the tubes and with the hard times that will but money in your town and jobs. Maybe you should give money to familys that need money or food clothes but piss it away on someone trying to do something good for the whole state.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.