A presentation regarding manure management and construction evaluations as well as the master matrix was given at yesterday’s Washington County Board of Supervisors’ meeting. Rachel Rinner with Knee Deep Solutions LLC explained the master matrix which is a scoring system used to evaluate if a proposed building fits the criteria needed for proper air quality, water quality and community impact.

Of Iowa’s 99 counties, Washington County is one of 11 in the state that do not use the matrix. Rinner supports not having a matrix as it is added paperwork for producers and there is a public hearing held at supervisors meeting regarding cofined animal feeding operations.

Following the meeting several citizens spoke words of concern for the environment and questioned why the matrix is not used in Washington County.