Loughmiller, Inc. and Andersen Dairy, Inc. were granted Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permits by the Cassia County Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday night.

Loughmiller was given its permit despite concerns from commissioners that the feedlot operation was within the two-mile buffer zone of Malta, set up to separate rural and agricultural zones.

The commissioners' concerns were eased because the proposed corral would actually be one-mile farther from the city than the existing corral.

The new CAFO area will house 1,400 animal units.

Safety concerns from Raft River Electric were solved before the public hearing with Loughmiller.

The property is at State Highway 77 and Highway 81 near Malta.

Mark Darrington, who excused himself from the Loughmiller hearing because of a personal conflict, was the lone nay vote against Andersen Dairy's CAFO permit.

Andersen is expanding its Declo operation to 6,120 units. But Darrington said he could not vote yes for the permit because a contract between Andersen and a farmer concerning waste removal was not binding, in his opinion.

The other commissioners said they, too, were concerned by the contract and by the inconsistencies of names on the contract, as one contract was written with Alan Andersen and not Andersen Dairy, Inc.

The commissioners voted 3-1 to approve the permit on condition that Andersen work out a new contract approved by the Cassia County Prosecuting Attorney, and all members of Andersen Dairy be held accountable for all signed contracts.