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Dickinson Among Counties Seeking Legal Review Of IUC Action On Pipeline Permit

September 03, 2024 Steve Schwaller

(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors this (Tues.) morning voted unanimously to sign an engagement letter with a law firm for joint representation to seek a judicial review of the Iowa Utilities Commission’s decision granting a permit to Summit Carbon Solutions. However, Supervisor Tim Fairchild said eventually he and fellow supervisors will likely need to have a serious discussion once it becomes more apparent local officials may have no control over the matter…

“Right now I’m still in, I’m still into this. But at some point we’re going to have to start talking seriously about how much money we’re going to spend on something that it’s hard to find a real legal, non-biased legal representative that will say you’re going to win this. That’s the issue. I think legislation is still the best trick, but.”

Fellow supervisor Kim Wermersen says its going to boil down to what happens in North Dakota and South Dakota. A recent ruling by the South Dakota Supreme Court sides with landowners. They don’t want Summit to use eminent domain to build the pipeline on their land.

Wermersen also expressed his frustration over the Iowa Utility Commission’s action…

“The challenge for me is why they don’t see it, or why don’t they hear it? Why did it sit for two years at the IUC, and I can’t imagine how many letters they got from landowners and yet it’s all in my eyes maybe a political thing.”

Several citizens who spoke at today’s (Tues.) meeting called on the supervisors to continue to fight for local control on the issue.