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Dickinson Co. Supervisors Authorize County Attorney & P & Z To Draft Ordinance Regulating Pipelines

November 28, 2023 Steve Schwaller

(Spirit Lake)– There was more discussion at today’s (Tues.) Dickinson County Board of Supervisors meeting about carbon capture pipelines. A line proposed to be built by Summit Carbon Solutions would pass through the eastern part of the county.

Supervisors again heard calls for an ordinance regulating underground pipelines and setbacks. One landowner, Vicki Beck, said she’s done research that shows most of the 24 landowners in Dickinson county who have signed easements for the pipeline don’t live near the proposed route…

“A lot of off-farm people are making a lot of decisions for us that live on the farms, and I encourage you to pass your ordinances and setbacks as soon as possible.”

Supervisors also heard today (Tues.) from O’Brien county farmer Al Giese, who also is President of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association…

“What we do here in Iowa is we grow things, we make things, and we build things, as a general rule. And I would hate to see a handful of counties destroy the opportunity for Iowa’s ag economy and the biofuels industry going forward, because without a viable overall ag economy in the state, we’re not going to have a very viable tourist industry here in Dickinson county, either.”

Following some further discussion, Supervisor Kim Wermersen made a motion…

“I’d like to make a motion that we direct the Planning and Zoning Board along with the help of our attorney, to design an ordinance for the purpose of regulating and restricting the use of land in the county for the transport of hazardous liquid, through a hazardous liquid pipeline.”

The motion passed 5-0. A handful of other counties in Iowa have already adopted a similar ordinance, but are facing legal action as a result.

There was no word as to when the Planning and Zoning could have a proposed ordinance ready for the supervisors to consider.

Supervisors also again today (Tues.) heard a call for a moratorium on the construction of pipelines, but no action was taken on that. Chairman Bill Leupold said it’s something they would need to discuss with the county’s Planning and Zoning Coordinator.