Supervisors agree to pen objection letter for use of eminent domain

By Rick Morain
Jefferson Herald

The Greene County Board of Supervisors on Monday voted to send a letter to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) objecting to the use of eminent domain for liquid carbon dioxide pipelines.

The letter does not oppose the construction of carbon pipelines per se. Instead it objects to the use of eminent domain to help a private company construct the pipeline, and opposes the issuance of a construction permit by the IUB to Summit Carbon Solutions if its construction cannot be accomplished without the use of eminent domain.
Eminent domain is a government action that acquires the rights to private property for a public use. The board’s letter, prepared by Greene County attorney Thomas Laehn, explains the board’s reasoning for its decision.

The vote on the board’s motion to approve the letter and submit it to the IUB was 3 to 2, with Pete Bardole, Tom Contner and Dawn Rudolph voting yes and Tom Contner and John Muir voting no.
In other action, the board turned down a request from Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) for a letter of support for a federal Rural Innovation for a Stronger Economy (R.I.S.E.) grant. The grant would provide $400,000 for GCDC’s diversity project. It requires a 20 percent local match of $100,000. The letter would not have committed the county to any funding for the project.
The vote on the motion to approve the support letter was 2 to 3, with Rudolph and Bardole voting yes and Muir, Contner and Burkett voting no. One reason the motion failed appeared to be that not enough support had yet been gathered from other interested parties, such as local employers.

The board approved the county’s application for county substance abuse prevention services for fiscal year 2022-23, and named Billie Jo Hoskins in the county auditor’s office as board-authorized signatory for the grant. The proposed grant totals $1,902.

Laehn also reviewed a draft of a social hosting ordinance that had been requested by County sheriff Jack Williams. The draft was for discussion by the board, not for action at this point.
The ordinance would provide civil penalties for someone who knowingly allows people under the age of 21 to use alcohol, and maybe also prescription drugs and controlled substances, on property under the social host’s control. State law in Iowa forbids such social hosting for youths 17 and under, but not for 18, 19 and 20 year olds.
The proposed ordinance would allow the county to extend the social hosting prohibition to that older age group. The ordinance would provide several exceptions to the prohibition. Laehn asked for direction from the board concerning the draft. It will be placed on the agenda of a future board meeting.

The board approved the hiring of Logan Wolf as a part-time emergency medical technician (EMT) for the county ambulance service at a wage rate of $12 per hour.
The board accepted Greene County treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen’s quarterly investment report for January through March. The total amount in the county’s financial accounts at the end of March stood at $15,426,213.48. The report also included the county’s share of revenues from Wild Rose Casino and drainage district outstanding warrants held by the county.
Jefferson city administrator Mike Palmer provided the board with his periodic update of city projects and activities.
The supervisors meet regularly every Monday at 8:30 a.m. in the board room on second floor of the courthouse.