The Saline County Study Knowledge-Based Community Decision Making.

The Saline County Study

Knowledge-Based

Community Decision Making

Principles of Saline County Study

Citizen involvement throughout a process leads to more informed decisions regarding issues.

An informed decision requires access to expertise to help understand the issues, alternative solutions, and consequences.

Issues Facing Saline County

Saline County is facing issues that will affect quality of life for citizens:

Water quality Animal agriculture Jobs and Income Recreation and tourism Protection of natural resources

What is the Saline County Study?

A collaborative effort to develop the information necessary for citizens and government to make informed decisions:

Saline County Citizens County Commission University Outreach and Extension Researchers at the University of Missouri -

Columbia

Mission Statement

Promote a rational, predictable and stable investment environment that identifies and protects key resources, personal rights and property rights through a process that involves and educates the citizens of Saline County

Study Group 10 Citizen Steering Committee

Additional Campus Researchers

3 County Extension Staff 3 Commissioners

3 Campus Researchers

Research Priority # 1 Are there particularly valuable and

vulnerable water resources in the county that justify protection efforts?

What would be the economic impacts of protecting these water resources?

Research Priority # 2 Are there particularly valuable and

vulnerable natural areas, historic sites and cultural sites in the county that justify protection efforts?

What would be the economic impacts of protecting these sites?

Research Priority # 3 What effect, if any, do large-

scale animal confinement operations have on the value of nearby property?

How would the location, size and technology of animal operations affect the level and distribution of odor?

Research Priority # 4 What is the capacity of land in

Saline County to assimilate additional animal manure nutrients, and where in the county is that capacity?

What would be the consequences of exceeding these capacities?

Research Priority # 5 Are there legal options available to the state and/or

county governments to influence or restrict agricultural uses of land?

What would be the economic and environmental impacts of restricting the availability of land for certain types of animal agriculture?

How would such restrictions affect landowners, property values, tax revenues and county services?

Research Priority # 6

How has county land use changed in recent years, and what has been the economic impact of these changes?

How has growth in residential land uses affected county revenues and services?

Saline County Sub-Committees

CommunicationsFormulate a county-wide plan to distribute information about the study

OdorReview odor controlling technologies and site considerations

OptionsResearch options for protecting property rights

ScenariosDevelop scenarios for “what-if” analysis

Saline County Study Web SiteDeveloped and maintained by:

CARES Center for Agricultural, Resource and Environmental Systems

CPAC Community Policy Analysis Center

University Outreach and Extension

Citizens of Saline County

Saline County Study Web Site Meetings Contact List Committees Photo Gallery Interactive Mapping (GIS) Discussions Documents, Reports and Minutes

www.cares.missouri.edu

Public Internet Access

Public Libraries in Saline Co.

Extension Office

(call ahead 660-886-6908)