A judge has ruled regulations passed by the Andrew County Health Department to be invalid and unenforceable in regards to a hog farm operation north of Savannah.

According to court documents, on Wednesday, Andrew County Judge Randall Jackson found the ordinance enacted by the Andrew County Health Department in 2010 on Concentrated Animal Farming Operation (CAFO) to be invalid. The court found that Missouri law does not give county health center boards the authority to pass regulatory ordinances such as the CAFO ordinance, but that only county commissions have the authority to pass broad-sweeping regulatory ordinances and only in compliance with state law.

The suit, originally filed by the health department against Joseph and John Knoff, Stone Ridge Pork and G.J.L. Farms, L.L.C. will not be going to trial. Court documents stated that since the ruling is dispositive of the case, the court found it unnecessary to address other grounds raised by defendants in attacking the validity of the ordinance. The Court also ruled that court costs should be taxed against the Andrew County Health Department.

A final judgement is expected to be issued on or by July 17.