By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

It’s no secret Scott County Commissioner Joe Wagner dislikes meetings, but he was especially less than enthused about serving on the county’s new farm advisory task force.

Wagner, who represents the largest swath of rural area in the county, was essentially forced by fellow commissioners last month to join the group.

The Sand Creek Township mortician and apple grower knows many of the appointees and compared the, to the jury in the 1957 film, “Twelve Angry Men,” predicting it would be difficult for the group to find consensus on land preservation topics, with differences of opinion on even whether there’s a future for farming in Scott County.

“With this group together, you could have some pretty nasty arguments,” he said.

An outgrowth of controversy over the county’s new land-use plan — which dictates ultimate urban growth — the task force will advise the county board on ag-related issues and make recommendations on the long-term future of farming in the county. While some argue the county needs to do more to ensure the viability of farming, others prefer few restrictions on rural development.

The other commissioner with a largely rural district, Tom Wolf of Savage, readily agreed to join the task force. Wagner suggested one of the county board’s city representatives sit on the panel for balance and he serve as an alternate.

Chairman Jon Ulrich of Savage countered that Wagner’s familiarity with task force members made him the ideal candidate.

“I think this group needs you Joe,” Ulrich said.

The task force membership is diverse in age, gender and farm types, ranging from traditional crop farmers to organic vegetable growers to a grass-fed cow milk producer.

Although members may differ on how long farming will continue in the county, they share an interest in where farming is headed, County Planner Brad Davis said.

Agreement may not be found on all issues, Davis said, but the task force will at least help identify the major issues, misconceptions and questions that need exploring.

“The task force can help me narrow down on what those critical issues are — and then, hopefully, we can find some solutions to these questions,” Davis said.

Commissioner Barbara Marschall of Prior Lake suggested it would be beneficial and “good customer service,” for Wagner to serve on the commission, since many members are from his area.

“They already know you Joe,” she said.

Wagner said he’s attended meetings of the Jordan Area Visioning Alliance, a group orientated around development issues that helped spur the creation of the task force and now has members on it.

JAVA is an interesting group, “a nice group of people,” Wagner said, but he’s already gotten into a heated discussion with them — when Europe, with its sprawl-restricting greenbelts, was held up as a model for development practices, he retorted that America won the world wars.

The county’s new land-use plan provides greater development opportunities for rural areas until urbanization occurs, but some residents don’t believe it does enough to promote and protect food production.

The new plan dictates which part of the county will eventually urbanize — essentially the southwestern section — and what area will have rural-flavored neighborhoods — the southeastern portion. The county relied on factors like topography and sewage treatment availability — not soil types — in determining urban growth boundaries.

Wagner recalled how the county got beat up when development was previously restricted to 1 house per 40 acres in one area, dubbed the “white island.” Developers then went around with petitions, and not one person was saying farming is still a good idea, Wagner said.

Wagner said he understands the arguments others are now making to preserve rich soils for growing food instead of sprouting houses.

“I can see both sides of it, but fundamentally, how do you force someone who doesn’t want to continue farming to continue?” he asked.

Planners say, however, that there are a range of practices — which could be voluntary, incentive-based or forced — that could be used to preserve good farmland.

Wagner said it was obvious other commissioners came to the June 23 meeting prepared to name him to the panel.

“I didn’t have a choice,” he said. “I don’t know why they even gave me the courtesy of discussion.”

Wagner said opinions on the task force will be very contrasting on the role of farming, and he felt uncomfortable getting pulled into the middle of it.

“You’re dealing with some very vocal people,” he said, including two in particular, who both own open farmland, but could argue all day.

Besides the question of whether farming has a future in Scott County, there’s a divergence of opinion on what type of food production should be promoted. A recent county forum on new farm studies illustrated philosophical differences amongst local producers, primarily between organic growers who are part of the local foods movement and traditional farmers.

“I just sense with the personalities, it’s going to be exceedingly difficult to come to an agreement,” Wagner said.

“We will see,” he said of his assignment. If anything, “it is going to be interesting.”

It’s not uncommon for Wagner to avoid committee assignments, frustrating fellow commissioners.

Wagner said he serves on the Scott County Extension Committee and as a liaison to the Scott County Planning Advisory Commission/Board of Adjustment, but he doesn’t think some committees commissioners attend are productive or require a commissioner to attend, since items will come before the county board anyway.

“If I don’t see any value, I can’t see going through the motions and collecting per diems and mileage on some of them,” he said.

Group membership

The following are the new Farm Advisory Task Force members and their township of residence: John Bisek, Cedar Lake/Helena; Jennifer Jenson, Sand Creek; Rob Casey, Credit River; Don Crofut, Spring Lake; Gerald Williams, Cedar Lake Twp; Ralph Pasquarette, Sand Creek; Ted Kornder, St Lawrence; Emily Zweber, New Market; Arnie Simon, Helena; Jim Prokes, Helena; Heidi Morlock, Belle Plaine; Ann Houghton, Helena; Dave/Florence Minar, Helena; William Busacker, Spring /Cedar Lake; Jim Schwingler, St Lawrence.

Shannon Fiecke can be reached at (952) 345-6679 or sfiecke@swpub.com.