Use of eminent domain still a possibility
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
“Eminent domain is a last resort,” Summit Carbon Solutions representative Paul Phillips told the Greene County board of supervisors at the regular meeting on May 23. “We’re not here to bully the community.”
Phillips and Riley Gibson gave the supervisors an update on the proposed carbon pipeline. The pipeline will capture carbon dioxide and transport it for permanent storage in North Dakota.
Phillips said, “We partner with 32 ethanol plants. Fifty-seven percent of corn produced in Iowa is used to produce ethanol. Summit Carbon Solutions was formed by agriculture for agriculture.”
Phillips and Gibson said they would hope for “100 percent voluntary easements” for land the proposed pipeline will go through, and Summit has done some re-routing to accommodate landowners.
Board chair John Muir asked about the use of eminent domain.
“In a project this size, eminent domain is necessary,” Phillips said. “but it’s a last resort, not a tool.”
Phillips recognized “there is no path right now” for the legal use of eminent domain since the Iowa Legislature has not approved its use by private companies.
“We’re here to be part of the community,” Phillips said.
He said the pipeline can help ethanol plants lower their carbon scores by collecting their carbon dioxide by-product which helps them compete in the marketplace.
Phillips and Gibson said Summit is hoping to construct the pipeline in 2023.
“We’re getting permits now. Sixty percent of the land (for the pipeline) in Greene County has been acquired. We’re expecting a decision from the IUB in June 2023.”
Phillips said Summit has invested $34 million in Greene County and he estimated new property taxes at $1.3 million annually.
County engineer Wade Weiss reported that he, Chuck Wenthold, environmental department, and Michelle Fields, drainage clerk, had met with representative from Summit Carbon Solutions and discussed the county’s expectations for Summit’s responsibilities for the drainage districts. Weiss said right-of-way, roads, and utility permits were also discussed.
In other business, Wenthold gave the board copies of the solar ordinances of six other Iowa counties. National Grid Renewables has proposed a solar farm for 800 acres south of Grand Junction.
County attorney Thomas Laehn spoke to the board about recodifying the county’s ordinances and gave them copies of the 29 existing ordinances.
“Recodifying cleans house,” he said. “Some can be narrowed down, some are obsolete. Those ordinances not included in a new recodification are automatically repealed.”
Laehn asked the board to read the current ordinances to make recommendations in the future.
Laehn said his office has 66 pending criminal cases and two upcoming trials.
He reported he will meet with Emilea Lundberg, Diane Hinderaker, and Jed Magee to talk about a community service program serving both juveniles and adults.
Lundberg is with State of Iowa Juvenile Court Services. Hinderaker is with Boone County Community Services. Magee is a Jefferson resident and retired Iowa District Court Judge.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph reported the proposed amendments to the 28E agreement with Central Iowa Community Services the supervisors approved at the last meeting will be presented to the CICS board this week.
Chair John Muir opened a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the county budget. There were no written or oral comments.
The supervisors unanimously approved the proposed amendment for fiscal year 2022 and appropriated funds for the changes.
The board then entered into a drainage meeting as trustees of the drainage district.
Drain clerk Michelle Fields reported there were negative balances from tile repairs and maintenance for five drains. She recommended additional assessments be made to cover the expenses.
The board unanimously approved Resolution 2021-2022 for drainage assessments and waiver rates. The affected drains are Districts 20, 85, 102 Branch M, 121, and 169.
