By Melissa Dunson

mdunson@joplinglobe.com

LAMAR, Mo. — Barton County Circuit Court may have denied the Richland Township’s request for a restraining order against a proposed hog farm challenging local zoning guidelines last week, but community leaders say they will still have their day in court and are confident about their case.

The Richland Township filed a request with the Barton County Circuit Court for a temporary restraining order against Kenoma LLC on July 9. Greg Harris, chairman of the township’s zoning board, said the restraining order would have kept Kenoma from continuing its site work and building any structures.

Judge James Bickel denied the township’s request for a restraining order July 12 based on a problem with the township’s amended planning and zoning handbook, but designated 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, as the time and date for hearing on a preliminary injunction against Kenoma.

Harris said the board will fix what he calls a “technicality” in the zoning handbook and still believes the township has a strong case.

“We’re very optimistic and consider the temporary restraining order being denied as a very minor consequence by comparison,” Harris said. “We believe we have very enforceable zoning laws. The judge told Kenoma that if they proceed (with construction) they do so at their own risk.”

Harris said he thinks Kenoma is trying to get through the court case based on a technicality, but he hopes the judge will look at the intent of the township voters who passed the zoning resolution.

Francis Forst, owner of Kenoma LLC, said he still believes he is in the right.

History

In April, 81 percent of the 206 voters in the Barton County township east of Golden City approved zoning. With support from an attorney, the township’s zoning resolution was prepared and approved by township officials on May 1. The new zoning rules limit the number of hogs allowed to 800 head for 160 acres.

But three weeks after township zoning was approved and recorded in Barton County, work started on the proposed hog farm. Kenoma plans to hold 2,400 hogs on 11 acres.

In a previous statement to the Globe, Forst said Kenoma is a farmer-owned company that contracts with Synergy, a pork-producing company with offices in Lamar and in Sully, Iowa. Kenoma will breed nursery pigs to be finished in Iowa. He said neither Synergy nor Kenoma has ties with any large corporation or company other than a marketing agreement.

According to Forst, Kenoma would generate $8 million in local economic activity annually, and has already created 30 new jobs and would add another 10 this year.

Court case