Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Cenarrusa pledges support in corral cleanup

Former Secretary of State opposes city control, opts for family resolution


By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

Former Idaho Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa, who served Blaine County for more than nine terms in the Legislature, including three as Speaker of the House, responded Monday to complaints about the confined sheep operation in Carey managed by his nephew, Jim Cenarrusa.

"I feel sorry for (Rep.) Wendy (Jaquet) that they killed her bill, even though it was a bad bill," Cenarrusa said from Boise in a telephone interview. He cited errors and misconceptions such as not referring to female sheep as yews and not setting an upper limit for the number of animals the law would govern. The bill focused on operations over 3,000.

The House Minority, Jaquet, D-Ketchum, attempted to introduce legislation to give cities power to govern sheep operations located within city boundaries. The bill was introduced in response to complaints in Carey about the impact of the 6,000 to 7,000 yews and lambs contained at the 20-acre sheep operation operated by Jim Cenarrusa.

But the House Agriculture Committee elected not to print the bill two week ago. If passed, it would have enabled cities to enforce compliance to any ordinances and resolutions regulating odors and nutrient management.

Pete Cenarrusa said it was not an issue for Carey city leaders to solve, but one for his nephew to sort out with the Department of Environmental Quality and Blaine County Extension Agent Ron Thaemert, who drew up a voluntary best management practices document for the operation.

"I don't have a sheep operation any place," Cenarrusa said, hoping to clear up misconceptions about his involvement in the operation. He explained that he voluntarily established a tree buffer to protect the closest neighbors, which he plans to maintain this spring. "I sold my sheep four years ago," he said.

However, he did concede that he signed a best management practices agreement for his portion of the property, where his nephew tends some of his own sheep.

"Some of the land on the south side belongs to me and Jimmy just puts his sheep on there," he said. "I know what has to be done. If he needs help, I'll help him. He doesn't need my advice. We can work with (DEQ and Thaemert) in solving the situation."

Cenarrusa said that Jaquet's bill would be too complex and there was no guarantee that Carey city government would act on the legislation anyway.

"Those things you can handle amongst friendly people, amongst neighbors," Cenarrusa said. "I think better times will be ahead of us."

Cenarrusa also said his nephew faces certain problems with regard to disposal of manure because the family has sold much of their open farm ground and he faces challenges about where to spread it.

Cenarrusa said that in his mind Jaquet's bill was selective legislation and included regulatory requirements for nutrient management, which is the business of the state. Together, the problems made the bill unfit to print, he said. He added that he did pass a memo to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Douglas R. Jones, R-Buhl, to that effect, although he said he did not say expressly that it should be killed.

"They were after Jimmy because sometimes he is not the most cordial of people," Cenarrusa said. "He thinks he is doing right. I am helping him out with the DEQ."

Cenarrusa said come spring he will help his nephew with additional manure trucks to clear the corrals. He also said he plans to help government agencies as they attempt to find solutions to ongoing ground water and air quality contamination issues in the Carey area.

"Even if it costs me money out of my own pocket," he said.




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