Robinson and Schmid recap ISAC experience
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held discussion regarding a familiar topic at its Aug. 30 meeting: The Summit Carbon Pipeline.
Supervisors Donna Robinson and Charla Schmid, who both attended the recent Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Annual Conference the week of Aug. 22, were tasked with talking with other area supervisors about their plans for the carbon pipeline being potentially built through their communities.
Robinson said there was a lot of discussion regarding pipeline plans, including presentations from Snyder & Associates Engineering, which the supervisors recently selected to coordinate pipeline inspections if the plans proceed. Robinson said Shelby County representatives also held separate seminars.
“They spoke about the Shelby County ordinance, which we have a copy of, and everyone seems to be using it as a model, based on what was discussed from those seminars. Shelby County officials really put a lot of time into this,” Robinson commented.
In addition, Robinson said they were also given a draft of a resolution passed in Dickinson County, but Robinson favored the ordinance.
“Based on the general discussion, it was felt that an ordinance has more teeth, and has more strength to it than simply passing a resolution,” advised Robinson.
Robinson also felt, after attending the conference, that it might be best to participate more with the drafting of the carbon pipeline ordinance.
“Different counties mentioned that their board of supervisors are doing this work right along with their planning and zoning boards,” commented Robinson.
“However, since the planning and zoning board is a volunteer position, maybe the board should consider putting a little more time into it and help out the planning and zoning board with information, anything they want, and anything we feel would be pertinent. Basically, working together.”
Schmid advised there were two lawyers present who didn’t discourage the counties from using the Shelby County ordinance as a template, but urged them all to study it carefully.
“They said this is a great ordinance for Shelby County, but there are a lot of things in it that are very specific to that county. If we do model off of that, we really need to go through it, line by line, to make sure it’s pertinent to our county,” stated Schmid.
Currently, there are three proposed lines going through the state, the Summit Carbon pipeline, one going across the center of the state, and one traveling through Eastern Iowa, and one major concern remains the effect it will have on the housing market.
“One of the things Shelby County is concerned about is that if it goes in and is within a few miles of their major towns, they have basically eliminated any possibility of housing in that area in the future. There’s so much trickle down effect to this that we haven’t realized,” Robinson said.
Robinson added the proposed project was going to continue to consume a good portion of the supervisors time for the immediate future.
The letter of intent for a contract with Snyder & Associates for pipeline inspection services is currently under review by County Attorney Drew Swanson.