Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

or at that water or the um correct crossing. Um otherwise they're going to plow in the south shoulder all the way up to where the tower site would be. I' got a local contractor hired to do the work that had done a lot of work. So I'm not worried about the quality and they'll only do the work on the dirt road if the dirt roads appropriate. So I recommend approval of the utility permit for RVC. Uh make a motion to approve the permit. I'll second call a vote. Tuppet. I

see my eye. Old question over there. The estates. What is that? This calendar year or seal coded? Seal coated. Okay.

But we want to I want to do some snow drop improvements and I'm working on meeting with three of the property owners on that road where I would get most of the dirt before they get started. I'm planning on how I'm going to go about doing that. But we plan on doing a bunch of work ourselves. Um, but not all of it, but to be done between now and fall. All right. Some people are interested to live down there. So, I'll talk to you later, Dave, about the sidewalk. Sure. All right. Would you have somebody take a peek at the road south of Blair and all that escles and some of the drop offs there? Okay.

I haven't seen it myself, but I appreciate it. Thank you. Well, okay. again. Can I get a motion to approve your minutes from last week? Did you need a clarification on the the price? She's fine. She's got it. Okay. Yeah. I didn't see I didn't see that. Tracy brought it to my attention. Other than that, I'd make a motion to approve the minutes.

I would second them. Okay. Call for vote. Tip it. I was eye set. Right. Yes. Both sets. Yeah. EMS claims. I did look through the EMS claims. I do make a motion to approve the MS clients. You have to read them. Yeah, we list them out. Do you want Tracy's folder? I have Tracy's folder.

Okay. EMS claims are as follows. We have North Bitton Ambulance for 64457. Garrison first responders for $40. Keystone first responders for 12618. Garrison first responders for 20551. Two claims from North Benton ambulance. No, one claim from North Benton right here. That claim is for 2035789. Two claims from Bell Plane. First claim is for 257366. The second claim is for 19973. We have another claim from North Benton for $714.99. Blairestown Ambulance for $159.99. Van Horn First responders has three. The first one is $198.99. Then $7,950 and the third one is for $54956. And then a payment to Life Safety uh from for North Benton uh vehicle for 25,000. Grand total is 40,72107.

Second. Okay. Call for a vote. Tippet. I he Okay. 9:05. We're a little bit late.

Me?

Yes. Oh my god. Thank you. Well, my name is Ter Center. Um, we are a central agency. Um, we are based in downtown Rapids, so we cover 14 counties. Um, I am advocate for Vincent County. Um, I am here this week. I'll be here twice a week. Um probably the lastly guiding you till 5:45. Um April is sexual assault awareness month. So we are let's see tomorrow. So tomorrow we will start um sexual assault awareness month. Um any updates for bidden forbidden county or review center is I am doing a volleyball um like a mad hatter. So what that is is at CMI in Cedar Rapids. So you just come and you just play volleyball and we are just um donating non-p perishable items and hygiene products to um sexual assault survivors. This proclamation sign this one or are they signing the wall on there?

They'll sign out.

Perfect. Perfect. Um, sexual assault affects women, children, and men of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. In addition to the immediate physical, and emotional costs, sexual assault may also have associated consequences of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, depression, homelessness, eating disorders, and suicide. And sexual assault can be devastating not only to the survivor, but also for the family, friends, and community of the survivors. And since no one person, organization, agency, or community can eliminate sexual assault on their own, we must work together to educate our entire population about what can be done to prevent sexual assault. Support survivors and their significant others and support those agencies providing services to survivors. Now, therefore, we the board of Oh, wait. Do I read that or do you read that?

I do. Well, it's so high school you, the board, would approve it. Now therefore, we the board of supervisors in this in and for Ben County on behalf of all staff and citizens of Ben County do hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as sexual assault awareness month in Benton County, Iowa. Encourage all citizens to learn more about preventing sexual violence. sign this day, 31st day of March, 2026.

We need a motion. Yes, I do. I would make a motion to um approve resolution 26-20. I'll second that motion. Okay. Call for a vote. Tippet I give her a copy. Sure. I think you remember this one. Yeah. Oh, yeah. You signing that one. We'll take two.

We'll take two. Perfect. You want me to stand with you? You want to stand with her? I'll get you guys' picture with

Okay. Do you want me to use your phone? Yeah, you can use my phone. Sign in. You guys can stand the picture. Excuse me. Thank you.

Any questions?

Have a good one. Thank you everyone. Thank you. really don't have enough time to discuss. How about uh discuss that public hearing date? So, I would like to set that for Tuesday, April 21st at 9:30. Hey, hey. Um, I got a message that the video is blacker. Um,

uh, the airport. I guess we got a few minutes. I can discuss that. Uh, I was at to attend the Vitten city council meeting on that. Their problem is uh last fiscal year it cost them right around 127,000 to operate the airport and it only brought in 99,000. So they were 30,000 short. So they were curious about if we enter in an agreement or a 28 with them to help support the airport. So, we're just discussing it now. We're not going to vote on anything or make any I'm just letting you guys know what I intended. They would like us to uh help them out. Join a partner.

So just bring it to your attention. Okay. Is this something they'd be willing to have a meeting so we would know what they're receiving for rent? And I have no idea what the rates are for. Yes. I don't know either. All I know is I got the bottom dollars. had a cost 127,000 to operate it and between uh grants and the fees that they charge they brought in 99,000. So they're almost 30,000 short. Then I don't know if runways are redone with some sort of DOT grant or how they do that.

Uh that's with the FA FFA or no not FFA FA. Yeah, that's the one. Uh the only hangup on that when you start getting federal money, you can't close it few years down the road or else you're going to have to pay that money back. There's strings attached money. And uh right now the user fee is based on how often you land to take off. No, there's no user fee as long as you use the hang.

But if somebody just, you know, I guess the only I can't say for sure, but the business uh click stop, they use that quite often, I guess, flying people in. Okay. So, I'm just bringing you guys. Is that controlled by CE Rapids tower? No. No. See, that's the other thing is that that is also approved runway that if there's an aircraft having mechanical problems, it could land on here.

It's some place, you know, in case there's a problem with an aircraft, they can't make it to Cedar Rapids, if they come to that runway and land. All right. And Thank you very much.

Kim and Jamie Whitehead are seeking approval to change the use of approximately 1 acre of land to allow for a full building with living quarters. The property is located approximately 2.5 miles southeast of Havana at 339156 Street Trail Center Point Iowa within the southeast border of the northeast border of section 12 township 85 north range 9 west within capture the proposal concerns at 3.89 9 parts of which the applicants own. The entire area of this request has a suitability rating below 70. So it is not considered high quality farmland. In addition, the proposal involves removing an existing garage and constructing a whole building with living quarters in the same location. There's timberland pasture and agro crops to the north, pasture land, timberland and single family dwellings to the east and west. a farmstead, agricultural crops, and pasture land to the south. Access to the property will be an existing driveway on the west end of the property, which will be extended. The driveway was reviewed and approved by D McKenna from secondary roads. The existing driveway may be extended up to 44 ft east of the southwest corner survey and still maintain proper side distance. The property is accessed from 56 street trail, a gravel county road with an average annual daily traffic count of 150 vehicles. The new structure will require a new septic system which will be permitted by the department. The existing private wall will continue to be utilized. Five notification letters were sent to adjacent property owners and legal notices were published in Benton County's official newspapers as required by ordinance. The Benton County land use received one complaint regarding the western property line and driveway. We also received a letter this morning which I will read at the end of my summary. This request is located on a parcel that

currently has a single family dwelling. In addition, the parcel is buffered from agricultural operations by Timberland. Therefore, this request is not likely to interfere seriously with farm operations in the area. The surrounding area is primarily agricultural with scattered farmland sense of single family dwellings. This request should not materally alter the stability of the overall land use pattern in the area. According to the Bington County Land Preservation and Use Fund, it is policy to provide limited and low density single family dwellings within the general rural use area upon a fair and equitable evaluation. For the reasons reported, this request has been found to be consistent with this policy and all other applicable policies of the plan. I'm now going to read the complaint letter submitted this morning. Um, it reads to address and oppose land use change of a part of the southeast border of the northeast border of section 12 township 85 north range 9 west of the fifth prime. This line is owned by Tim and Jamie Whitehead of 624 Minting C Center, Iowa. Um, I am ready to discuss the topic of my concerns of the property line that you have been encroaching on. I have concerns with some alignment issues that I believe should be clarified. Understanding the exact boundaries of our boundary of our property is important for all of us and it can prevent any misunderstandings misunderstandings in the future. This the issue is with the fence chicken and bricks. These items are encroaching on my property. Most of the current fence has already been removed by others prior to the white house. I would like to construct a wood and steel post fence with four or five barbs. This partition fence will distinguish property lines and there for making permanent and correct boundary for your survey that we had done in 2023.

Chapter 3509A covers Texas.

There are also have been piles of debris and other items pushed onto my land. There has been a bridge constructed on my property without any permission and this becomes a liability issue and trespassing issue. There has been a pond built on the Whitehead property and the backing of water onto my property is a legal for 468. From what I can tell, it appears that the dip will have to be lowered 10 ft to address this issue. therefore releasing me from any liability or any accident or trespassing on my property. This pond also pushes water approximately 200 feet back on my land, changing the natural drainage. With team my wife and Jamie Whitehead property being listed as an Airbnb under Blue Creek cabin without a distinctive and visibility border and fence, I'm sure in my opinion guest will be trespassing and become a liability for your neighbors. as advertised with station on this one which is backing up on my property along with your walk bridge has created a liability for me. There's also a driveway that has been installed on my property without permission on the southwest corner. I'm sure in the future with this language change there will be need to be another driver or driveway extended. This can this can be solved also neighborly. This making it easier for the secondary road department. I would appreciate it if we could work together and resolve the above issues in a friendly or neighbor neighborly manner. I Jessica would like to come to an agreement in a polite and neighborly manner. I have my my land use lease to big Jones and he has a power of attorney on my land. Vic will be helping me in this on this issue and encroachment issue. Working together as neighbors would be the most sensible way to do this for all parties involved. We have contacted trustees for penship and they have been in touch with the Benson County attorney. Um they are considered a third party imitator. I would appreciate that the Benson County Department of Land use administration shall not pass the land use change until the illegal water and

land encroachments are addressed and corrected. That's the end of the letter to sign Jessica Brunell on March 27th. Um I would like to add that they mention that the driveway was installed on the property without their permission. That driver has been there since at least 1961. There used to be a house there. And the pond has been there for about 20 years or so. Correct. At least since 2002. At least since 2002. And I believe Vic and Jessica are here present. And so

there is no statute of limitations on doing things wrong. It doesn't make any difference when any of that is done. But now that we're trying to continuing on with another subject, just address what's going on previously and get it taken care of. That is our opinion. So, the Whiteheads are able to extend the driveway that is split in between their property and Jessica's property up to 44 ft. That way, they'll be able to utilize that without going to towards the Jessica's property. Doesn't there have to be permission by the owner of that portion of the driveway to extend it?

They're going to be extended towards their property, not towards Jessica's property. It was surveyed in 23.

We surveyed we surveyed it when we bought it three years ago. And I think everybody was surprised the property line shifted about 10 ft to the right where pretty much everybody on that road I believe. But he also the survey Scott surveyor said that the chipping group is not on it. It's on our property. The the bridge is on our property also and you can contact him because we did pay for it um the Scotty. So um but he did because I was out there with him when he showed us in the driveway. It was like in the middle of it and then it goes off diagonal. So, um, I had asked him that like, "Oh my gosh, you know, are these on his on her property?" And he said, "No." In regard to the actual application, really, it's simplest form is we're removing an existing pole barn that's there. We're building one slightly bigger that's going to go towards our property along with a septic that meets code. Um it doesn't encroach on any property owners. It doesn't impact any neighbors use of land. Obviously on if I can speak again on the aerial it's pretty obvious the aerials are not perfect imaging. We've seen the pins the trustees have seen the pins. Not on Jessica this property. Very visual. I've seen all the pins on the north south and the key employees at their property. Maybe the board ought to go take a look before making this decision.

You can you can contact Scott Surveyor. He did it. It was paid for and that he's I think he's done quite a few in Benton County. So he's the one that had told me any fencing that's there. Excuse me. I'm Jessica, but nobody came and said to me that that was that the the bridge was on your property. These were where the pins were. Who's telling you that the bridge? I'm saying when you had it surveyed. They don't have to. I paid for it. I understand that. But you said they came and told me that everything because I met with him because he wanted to go through the lines with me.

Okay. And that's when I questioned like, "Is anything on Jessica's property?" And he said, "No, it is not." So that's why we didn't contact you because nothing is on your property. Okay, Derek.

Yeah. So, I mean, you're just asked to look at land use usage, not lines cuz lines is a private because it's a budding private homes. We have no jurisdiction over that cuz it's between the two property owners. Like we're just talking about what is the use of the land being used for. Um and if it doesn't encroach another person's land, you know, then there shouldn't be a issue. It's when it crosses over that becomes an issue because then you can't satisfy an application for someone else's plan. Makes sense, right? Um but as far as like uh um uh line disagreement, that's not that's not within the purview of this um ordinance to make a decision on that. That's between private land owners, unfortunately. That's just

been involved in this, right? Um of course the letter says uh spoke to me. they did um asking about the procedure for it and I said usually it's you know try to do it amongst themselves and if there's a disagreement then the trustees come in and perform the chapter 359 of the Iowa code as far as like distinguishing where the fence line should be in payment of that in accordance with those rules and that specifically chapter 359A specifically says a jurisdiction falls in the town of trustees because uh that's the point of them. Let's try to figure that out.

So the change sharing is just for the building. That is correct. How much longer is the new building going to be than the existing one? What was the question? How long is the new building? 60 by 60 by 80. And currently it's uh I believe 40 by 60. Okay. Roughly and it goes towards our property. So the extra the extra building is going to go to the east from where it is.

I'm just looking at the green slashes on here. It shows that it's but that's not true to Okay. I say one more thing doing this or passing this is saying compliance to what's already been done and it's just making it okay. It's the way I feel. You know, it's pretty simple to take care of the issue in a with running the air and DMB and trying to protect the property from trespassing. And now we're going to if we pass this, if you guys pass this is to go ahead and put in a new septic and build another building. The previous work was okay being done on somebody else's property. You know, it's it's simple. put up a boundary is established visual to keep people from trespassing and violating other your neighbors property. It's we spoke earlier a year ago and that got nowhere.

Is there a fence right now separating that? It's been pushed out by probably duty, but uh No. On down towards the pond. Yes, there's a fence down there. That very old fence. There's There's kind of a broken fence all along that wooded line where the property line was assumed originally. I believe some point the plot the plat pins were GPS relocated and shifted everything. Um but the existing fence wasn't put in illegally. It was where the property lines were at the time.

The original pin that's in that driveway, the one that Scott did his name. Uh there's another pin, the old one, the original far away put in only knows it. So it's not a movement or something done wrong by Scott or you know on the survey. So the big thing is is since there was a survey done you know that's the controlling in a sense unless the court is otherwise which is going back to my point of if there's an issue you know you guys that's outside of the purview here and given that if this is what we have currently that's what we have to within that you No. Um, then you know, we're just discussing whether land use is proper cuz I'm assuming you have a right here, right?

And you said this is operated as an Airbnb existing house over there to the east. And plans are we will be moving out there um when we build this. So,

so the demolition of one building and the construction of a new building falls within our ordinance and everything is fine there. They make the policies of the land use ordinance. Okay. And then the the property line disputed that's not ours. That's not ours. Correct.

And all the extension of the L change is going to be towards the east. Nothing going towards the west in terms of what we what the parameters that we have and what's been presented. I don't see a problem with what they want to do. All the other things are out of our hands. I agree with Bruce.

When was the last time that the trustees met on this? It's been a week ago that I met with them out there. And uh this is a very official notice and stuff like that or just diving in the starting process of it. So it's just starting. It's just starting. Is it just starting or is your fence viewing going or I have no knowing? Okay. Okay. Yeah,

we did get um he Vic um had told us to put a fence up when we first bought it and said we had to and um so that's the last that we because I had told her well we'll talk to our attorney she said no we do not. So um that's all we heard. So okay I was just trying to get perspective of like the fence dealing with duties and stuff. So, okay.

Jessica or talked to Jamie about a year ago about Fer, you know, after they purchased it and thought, well, let's get this fit, you know, Airbnb to try to come some sort of visual property line and and respect for the other person and being people out of town coming to rent a place. And the last thing she said, I'll talk to my lawyer. And that's as far as I got. I called Jimmy 2 years ago and my she text me back saying, "Well, we're in the right. We don't have to." So I don't believe that's what I said.

Well, okay. And that's not our I can read it to him if you'd like. That's not even open for debate for us. That's not our We don't have anything to do with that. Well, gentlemen, can we make a motion? I feel we make the motion. My opinion is I will make the motion to approve the land use for this new structure. I'll second. Okay, I'm going to call for a vote. Tippet. I

I'm going to say no. B's. Okay. Okay. 940 farther. You don't have any Yep.

All right. Good morning. I'm Kelsey Herren. I am seeing the for the ordinance pertaining to pave road for uh for subdivision property between 59th Street Trail and 61st Street Lane. Yeah. So, I was advised to contact you guys. I don't see if that was even an option before I go forward three, four. I believe it what you guys see there looks to be just under a half mile. I haven't checked with the county if that they consider that road to North 59th Street natural pig road. It looks to be asphalt. It's not fast as south. It look like it's had uh seal put on it over the years.

Yeah, that one where there was I couldn't tell if that you guys are familiar with that for sure. Can you show us on the map? So, yeah. So, it's going to be right over here on 31st Avenue there, just north of 61st Street Lane there. Um so about a mile west of the Urbana Shellsburg blacktop north of the county level there

and you're looking for theund

and just looking at doing those splits and that quarter section. Sure. Yes. I don't know here as the time comes pretty

yeah that's those are those portions are not set but I would make sure so what you're asking for right Now is the variance on the pay. Yes. Yes. Cuz you haven't laid out any lots or anything yet. You said this is the first step I should take. Yep. Uh you're buying 160 there. 120. 120. Uh and you're going to subdivide all that out.

No, I would probably do what roughly what is on your sheet. Okay. And uh maybe the uh the 80s will get down. So 37 off retain 64 to the north. Uh faster ground. Yep. And CSR is what? It's very steep. Gentlemen, I do not have a problem with the barrels.

I I have to rely on what you guys I don't know what you said. The road is currently it's gravel, but they got seal to the north and to the south and south is asphalt. Yeah. County home. In fact, it was just done year ago. Yeah. Yep. to the wrong. Where's the pave top? This way. Yeah, that's the pave road. So, this is the gravel road. Sorry. So, this would be the coming home road down here. Okay.

This will be the shelter top. Okay. Um 59 trails over there. And this is a gravel road here. Yeah. Yes. This is Okay.

Thank you. We haven't let them let other ones do this in the past. I don't see a problem with changing. And that would be so it's clear that probably not something the county is going to change their mind on that we're going to go in and black top that road. It's just not going to happen any gravel forever in my opinion. So did you make a motion? I would make a motion. Is this the resolution 2621?

Yes, it is. I'll second and call for a vote. Chippet I

team and I want to have a copy. This one.

Yes. Thank you.

Y There you are.

All right. Next on the agenda, Jan Shear. Yep. Is it okay if I sit here? You bet. Okay.

Good morning. My name is James Sheer and I reside on Maple Grove Farm with my husband at 338873rd Street in Ben County. I am before you today with residents, land owners, businesses, and citizens concerned about the Morgan Valley Power Plant, which has been proposed by Alliant on the Benton County line at the intersection of Highway 30. Our home is across the road. The property lines from our property to the proposed site is 30 yards. Our goal is to educate the population within the 10 mile impact zone and assist with questions and comment filing comet filing on the ice site and to engage local government for help. Hopefully you received and reviewed the alliance presentation that was emailed to you. This was provided by the Fairfax Council along with the recording link. There are so many unanswered questions which all is willing to address. Can you imagine the impact of pollution? air, light, sound, smell 24 hours a day. Detrimental to people, animals, livestock, farmland, watershed, wells, birds, insects, trees, the list goes on. I was wondering if this would happen to be like living next to ADM. We drive by ADM all the time. You have all those elements and the plant would burn 24 hours a day. You're not just driving by. Atkins and Fairfax are the target of the prevailing winds. There is a 10mi impact radius. So this does not stop at the Winbenton

County line that apparently Lynn County and Alliant thinks it does. So think of all the communities and the towns that are impacted by this. Did I mention safety? How about this pipeline of highpressure gas that will run under the ground people's properties now that the general picture has been painted? What is Benton County going to do in response to this threat? That's why we're here today along with pe other people who are concerned citizens who would like to speak after me or in the public comment section. There's a real urgency. Alliant has um minimum of let's see 30 days Alliant has to provide their application. So then the ball gets rolling. You find out the calendar. Are you willing? What are you guys willing to do? I mean here are some of my questions. Are you f filing a setback ordinance for Benton County for this type of zoning? Is there one already? You probably read what Linton County has done already. Plus, there exceptions. Filing an injunction to slow the process down until Bent Community can obtain the requested information. Where's Alliant today to do a presentation? Has there been outreach to Lynn County supervisors or to a light which I had heard that he had reached out with no sorry this and and again this impact does not stop at the county line. It is farreaching. Has there been outreach to the impacted towns Atkins goes up to Shellsburg Wford?

Have you talked to these town governments about how we can mobilize and how they can you know they're their statements about whether they agree with the plant. Have studies been obtained from the lion to support their due diligence regarding the environment or any information about why they selected this proposed site which seems to be which by cohorts will give you a lot of information on why this is a bad deal for everybody. So, um, it's just a life-changing proposal for everyone, and they'll speak to the size of this monster. 720 megawws, it's going to be the highest carbon generating plant in the state, and it's not going to help the residents. It's all about the money, the data centers, and that. And did you know just a mile south, there's something going on there? We don't know if it's a battery plant or if it's a data center. And I just read a study with data centers. They can raise the temperature of the land six miles away. I mean, you can think of what it can do to the climate and the farmers. And if that's more your bet, um, I've also we've also put together these sheets, a Facebook page and a email address for our group. There's copies over there. I can pass them out and I'd like to pass around this 10 mile impact area so you guys can look at it and have a better understanding. So I'd like to John here, John Lee is going to speak briefly because he has to get going. Correct.

Yeah. Um

and we so we'd like answers but what are you guys going to do? How are you going to help with this? Because this it's your responsibility. Thank you. Um, my name is John Lee. Uh, my home is at 2510 Cro Road. I'm just over the county line I live in county, but my property is immediately adjacent to the Morgan Valley Power Plant site. Um, and that's what I'm here to talk to you guys about today. From my home, my daughters, my three daughters can walk out our back door and walk through our backyard and right to where this power plant is being built without crossing a road. I want to share a concern that I think is important to have clearly on the record. That concern is that the project be is being evaluated without any sightspecific baseline air and weather monitoring at the homes closest to the site. I'm not here to debate conclusions or outcomes. What I'm trying to do is understand how sight specific conditions at nearby homes are being evaluated without sight specific data. Right now, I've not been able to identify any baseline air and weather data collected at the residents closest to the site. Without that baseline testing or excuse me, without the baseline data, there's no way to understand whether localized conditions such as air settling and temperature inversions could affect how emissions behave at nearby homes. There's also no way to verify whether the modeling reflects actual conditions on the ground or to measure impact later. That's not just a concern for my home.

That's a broader issue about how projects like this are evaluated anywhere they are proposed. Even though this project is located in Link County, the process and precedent don't stop at the county line. And I believe that that matters to Benton County as well. I'm asking whether the board would consider formally requesting that sightsp specific baseline air and weather monitoring be conducted at nearby residents before the project moves forward. I'm also asking for your help. I'm asking for your help in making sure that that that concern is raised clearly with the Iowa Utilities Commission so the decisions are being made with complete and accurate information. Thank you for your time and consideration. Happy to discuss this questions.

Have you attended any of the L County Supervisors meeting? Yes sir. was there yesterday made a statement similar to what I'm saying uh a little more long-winded uh addressing some of the concerns. Can I ask you? Yes.

My name is Hopkins. I'm a Benton County property. clients picked a terrible location for this huge power plant. It is my understanding they have declined to come to the city of Atkins and explain their sighting. The site is 30 feet from Benton County. Will have a major impact on both sides of the line. We need your help as our elected officials. Benton County needs protection and requirement and representation on this issue. I urge you to consider a resolution against this site and to consider a 2.25 mile or greater setback ordinance as well as a 280 agreement with Blint County for the setback enforcement. Time is of the essence in this situation. Align is trying to move very quickly and keeping it very quiet from Benton County. the CSR. This is this parcel is Inland County, but I know you guys are as some of us are very concerned about CSR. It's 95 on parts of this parcel. The entire parcel averages out to almost 90. This is this is like almost as top quality farm ground as you could find anywhere. And I'm guessing, I haven't researched it, but right across the line, I'm guessing it's probably similar because the whole area is is like that.

The intersection at that site is already dangerous, more dangerous than many intersections right there in that area. It's terrible. There was just an accident this past weekend, a rollover at that exact intersection. So echoing their words, we need you guys as our supervisors to use to to get Benton County involved in this process. It's it's literally right next door to us to county. Thank you.

Thank you. My name is Martha Shear. I'm here in representation of my mother, Donna Shear, who lives on the farm on the Highway 30 in the Betton Lynn County line and has the family has lived there. It is a heritage farm and it has been recognized as such and so I'm here representing her. She's not able to be here. Um, first of all, Alliant claimed they did their due diligence and their due diligence was that they only had to contact people in Lynn County and let men county know. So, when we went to the meeting at Kirkwood, many of us were completely blindsided from Benton County of the location of this plant, especially particularly uh my mother and my sister and brother-in-law who live on the property that is 30 yards from this power plant. But the fact that Alliant and the way it's stated that they can say that this county line means that they do not have to notify you or Benton County. Um, is that okay? what happened to good neighborly uh Iowa values that that's an arbitrary line we as people have drawn to you create governments and structures but we know that that doesn't hold back all the pollution and negative effects of this power plant. The stacks, there'll be three of them, will be a minimum stated by a lion of 150 feet, but it can go higher than that. What's that do for the not just all the pollution, but also the aesthetics and taking valuable farmland out of

production? We're asking Benton County and you guys to to put an injunction to slow it down so Benton County has time to get their questions answered because we know what the prevailing winds. Iowa is windy. We there's a flag at the farm. We know always where the wind is blowing and uh Lind County is screwing their own people because the wind's blowing that direction a lot going toward a lot of Lind County communities but it also blows a lot toward a blows up that direction. So communities like Atkins and Shellsburg and all the people this is not the county line area has a lot of residents there. It's not just our farm. There's many residents up and down the county line. Atkins is spreading down to the south. So, all these people are going to be affected, their health, their uh you know, again, the land um and the light and sound, all of this. And we're asking you to even to go to Lynn County and say, "What happened to good to good neighbors?" Okay, good neighbors. This line does not stop this stuff. you guys needed to be just as involved as Lynn County and we're asking yes that you know on the Benton County side the setback is much much less than it is on Lynn County why isn't it the same on our side or why can't we say well our setback is bigger we have to negotiate this so we're asking that you do this to slow this process down and to protect the people of Ben County because you guys are some of the only places that we have to turn to because Lynn County doesn't care about what's going on in Benton County. They're showing that. So, we're just asking that you do everything you can so that we can that

everybody gets the information and that Alliant is forced to do what they need to do to protect everybody because they'll just go on to the next power plant and and then we get to deal with the fallout, the health issues. We don't know what it's going to do to the the crops and the land as the pollution is dumped on. And again, and then you put the gas lines that are running through and we know that um those can be a problem. I was already seeing one explosion this year of underground gas pipeline. So, there's a lot going on here and of course I have my family farm and my family has been in this area for a long time and has been very community-minded and very community supportive. Anyway, thank you very much for listening to us and hearing us and um taking on this fight with us.

Can I say a couple more things? So I to your question, I actually I've been to all four in the cabinet. So I have a lot of knowledge on the situation. I've been researching it and investigating. So any questions you have, I can't answer all of them, but I maybe can answer more than some people. To the point on prevailing winds, if you take draw a straight line, as you all know, northn northwest, south, southwest is the two wind directions in Iowa. You draw north northwest south to south southwest line from Atkins to Fairfax. That line will literally go through the center of this planet. So it is exactly on the prevailing win line. So that part of the time it's going to get Fairfax Lyn County community and the other time it's going to get Atkins a Benton County community. Thank you.

May I make some comments please have to turn around and look at me. My name is John Lrassic and I I live in Lyn County and I've been engaged in work on trying to do things to clean up the way we produce energy for a long long time. I've been to all of the then county supervisor meetings that dealt with both the data center ordinances and the gas fired power plant ordinances trying to make sure those are put in place in such a way that it won't be so hard on us as citizens of the area. So I wanted to talk to you about two things. One is energy cost and the other one is the amount of emissions these plants produce compared to what you currently have. So I'll take the second one first. So right now in uh Benson County, you guys produce about 600,000 metric tons of emissions each year. This one power plant running six 60% of the time will produce 2 million metric tons of emission. So it's going to more than triple the emissions that are going to be here in the area. That's nasty. and it's going to be 30% more than the emissions in Lyn County, which are very high already. So, Line Energy has had goals to reduce those emissions over time to make things better for all of us so that our crops can grow more reliably year to year so we can all be healthier. But they're not doing it now. They're taking us the other direction. And then the other thing that's going to affect everybody is pricing of natural gas. So, This one plant is going to use 1.2 times as much natural gas as every resident,

business, and industry in all of Lynn County. 1.2 times. So, it's more than doubling. And then we've got the liquid natural gas terminals that are going to be built to ship natural gas out of the United States. And then we've got global coupling so that now natural gas prices are going to be driven by demand across the globe. So if some foreign country wants to pay more for natural gas to get it from us, they'll do that and companies will send it there driving up our prices. So estimates are that natural gas pricing over the next 5 years is likely to go up by 25%. if things are just kind of normal. But if we get into these other conditions that create a lot more risk for the pricing, it could go up by 141%. So imagine what that's going to do to people's gas bills after the cost of propane. So many of the rural residents have to rely on propane and you know how that goes up when natural gas goes up in price. So Align Energy has responsibility to show all the alternatives they research. What about return? What about alternatives that use no fuel and no water? What about those? Have you looked at what are those costs? How would they affect our communities? So, I've been demanding that they put together a study that shows they've looked at all those alternatives. And the Iowa Utility Commission does require that they show they've looked at those alternatives. So, that may be a way for you to engage is to let's get the facts. Let's see what else you looked at and see what's going to be best for our community because it's those data sets that are causing this problem. One data set, the QTS one outside southeast side of Cedar Rapids is 1.2 million square ft. That's a building covering 28 acres. Can you even believe

that? That one data center is going to consume 180 megawatt of energy around the clock. This isn't like a building where you, you know, you have a certain peak load during the day. Your load looks like that. This is a like that flat as a pancake. And of course, they're also they're exhausting enormous amounts of heat because all these electronics produce a lot of heat. They either have to water cool them or they have to have closed loop cooling system. And that uses more energy, the closed loop cooling system. At least it doesn't impact their water. But we need to be talking about these data centers and the impacts they're having on us in this community. And uh this isn't the last gas plant that's going to be built. And they're being built all over the United States. And you know when demand goes up that fast like it is with these thousands of data centers across the United States, it's going to drive up gas prices and it's going to hurt all of us as we try to get through our lives. So, thank you very much for listening and hopefully we can work together across counties and across cities to make sure that things are done in a way that's going to be good for all of us. Thank you. I I'll go ahead and make some comments as well.

Okay. So, I'm more or less I'm just a resident, but my parents are in fact land owners here in Benton County. We live on 74th Street Drive. So, we can we in theory can see the power plant right outside of the lovely new picture window we put into our living room since we're on the hill above it. We weren't told about the power play. And I find that very concerning and somewhat insulting that because we're in another county, even though we're in clear visibility lines, nobody from Alliant thought they needed to tell us about this. I've just been sitting in this meeting listening to what people have to go through to change voting approvals here. how they have to put legal notices out, how they have to send notifications. We didn't get any of that. The only reason I knew to go to the Kirkwoodformational meeting is because people that are here came and knocked on my door and said, "Hey, did you know they're going to build a power plant right outside your backyard?" It's a county line. So, yes, it's in Lynn County, but as you look at previous sites they've looked at and as you look at the plans, I'm not sure they could have chosen a site more guaranteed to put the costs of the power plants on people who aren't getting any of the benefits. We don't use all energy. We're all everybody around them for the most part are rural energy. They say they're going to have to bring in the Cedar Rapids water because guess what? Everybody around them's on well water. We don't have city water out there. We don't have city waste disposal.

Apparently they're planning on using Atkins EMS was one of the questions they answered. And I can tell you as somebody who lives right out at the edge of that, technically my address is Fairfax even though I'm in Benton County. That is a long way. that EMS department is not going to be getting there very quickly. Other people have already pointed out the issue with accidents on the interstate they chose. It's also on the Lin Benton County Line Road, which is a gravel road that they want to put this big industrial site on. It can barely handle the school bus traffic that comes through it in the winter. and they want to put an industrial site there without it sounds like talking to Benton County and that is incredibly concerning that they don't seem to want to involve Benton or Atkins at all. Cedar Rapids, as has been pointed out, this is for the data centers. There's absolutely no question about that. You just have to look at the fact that this would be a bigger site than the nuclear or a bigger generator than the nuclear power plant. And uh before the data centers, the nuclear power plant was considered something we didn't even need. But now we need what like four times that energy is what the total is going to be. So they want to build their biggest power plant right on the line between Benton and Lynn. and yet they don't want to go to Benton County at all. None of that suggests this is going to be a beneficial plan. None of it suggests they plan on putting in the type of environmental controls you would expect for something like this. None of it says that they care about the residents around at all. It suggests they're trying to find the easiest site

with the lowest resistance instead of properly engaging with all the communities involved. that it's very concerning as somebody who will be within ey line of the site that is also for some reason not as technologically advanced as the one they proposed for Fairfax. It's even a little bit smaller in generation power than the one they proposed in Fairfax because the more advanced version has a better efficiency so would use less gas. But no, they want to stick a basic almost outofdate oil gas burning power plant right on the county line and not talk to Benton County about

Thank you.

So Beth County is a first responder at the closest community. The road costs there's going to be road costs and other infrastructure costs are going to be borne by Benton County. Benton County gets no benefit from this. There's no tax revenues. The the power plant taxes are calculated differently than other property taxes, but still doesn't go to Benton County because of sighting. Um Iowa is currently a and has been for years net positive energy producer. We have 10 to 14% net positive. So we we produce 10 to 14% more power currently than we need. That power is shipped elsewhere. Missouri is net negative historically every year. So a lot of our power generated goes to Missouri. This plant is not going to produce power for Ians. It's not even going to necessarily produce power for the data centers because they came here already knowing that we have a net positive. So they got plenty of power to run these plants. This is an alliance money grab is my opinion that they see the opportunity to produce more power and this power is actually going to be exported from Iowa. The only thing I'll I'll mention J because that has been the case in the past. We built a lot of power exported but these data centers that we're talking about there are 18 plants and rough computations of how much energy they they're going to use is 1.8 8 gawatt. Right now, Alliant Energy is desperately trying to get as much energy built as fast as they can because of this. They're building another plant up in Marshall Town as well. You're aware of

that. And of course, the reopening of the nuclear plant with the with a second reactor in is now planned in at the nuke plant. There's going to be two reactors. I've been hearing about that interest.

They originally built the plant to to house two reactors. They never ever put the second one in, but the infrastructure is in there. I've heard they literally have the reactor comes in something that is so wide they have to ship it at a few miles at a time because the entire road that is either already here or is in process of getting here for because there'll be two reactors at at the new plant at some point. Lynn County changed their ordinance. It used to say nuclear facility and they now plural that word the facilities. So they know something about an additional um reactor or facility nuclear facility within county.

I also wanted to add about the Marshalltown additional plants. These plants don't have a huge footprint. Is it 164 acres that are this size of the site? There's certainly potential and they've shown with Marshall Town they can just put in another plant and I'm sure that's already, you know, they don't need 164 acres. So if this baby goes, you're going to have twice as much of that stuff going on. I mean, it's it's mindboggling.

Marshall Marshall Town has 1,400 acres at their site that Alliant has grabbed. They're building a second power plant as we speak right next to the first one. According to a line, we heard that one this one plant will take about 30 acres. 20 acres for the plant and 30 for 10 more surroundings. So 30 acres for the plant. They're but they want they're purchasing an option. They haven't done it yet that we are aware or 160 acres. They have bigger intentions. They don't need to buy 160 acres if they have to if they're trying to site a 30acre plant. In Marshalltown, they didn't need 1,400 acres for one and now two power plants. They have bigger designs that are kept from everyone else. Mhm.

I would like to mention that besides the one option they have for this 160 acre parcel, there's at least four other options that Alliant has gone to other farmers and has in that Morgan Valley area along or just off the county line. And we know that once Lynn County reszones that to heavy industry, it's just going to grow into more heavy industry because the precedent will be there on the this county line and all of that is going to affect Benton County, its farmland, its citizens and on and on as well as Lane County. So, you know, a foothold in a toe on the ground and we know that it will just explode from there that everybody we could even end up with a data center in that area. I mean, it just once it goes, it goes and so we just feel like it needs to be it needs to be stopped or slowed down and look seriously looked at before the foothold happens in this area. And it's not just this this part of Lyn Benton as you guys all know PLO you know po is very close to the Benton county line six data centers are now what's scheduled there John saying 18 total that's 12 or 13 at the airport and six at payload that QTS is one company at the airport Google is the other one and Google is at at Po When you put a million feet under a roof and you want to do that six times, it's it's got to get closer to Ben County. And at some point, it's going to hop the line. They're going to come and say, "Hey, we want to be on this side." So that's why we're urging you guys to get

ahead of it for all of us and at least get some regulation in place. I understand it's a complicated situation with all kinds of legal aspects, but that's why we're here talking to you because we need that help.

I think I think it's also worth mentioning many of the routes that we're trying to understand they're they seem to be far more ahead of us than we realize. You know, I I'm I'm on day number eight in in knowing understanding this. I think 10 days has went by since it's been brought to my attention for the meeting and I've done a lot of research. I'm not finding a lot of answers that are helpful, but it seems to be that a lot of things have been happening that that make it harder for us to stand up and object. Um, in Link County, we're struggling a lot to even be able to object on some of this stuff. I don't understand any of the process and how this works. I just know it's in my backyard and I know that I'm trying really hard to do things about it and talk to people and and get in front of elected officials and that's not an easy thing. Um, and elected officials that I've been in front of are not giving me information that's making me feel uh as if we have anything to go with. uh things are just moving at light speed and I'm trying to learn the process and at the same time try to fight it or or get my own opinion and opin opinion of our neighbors across and it's very difficult thing for us right now I'm going to come up here just because my voice is kind of going I can't really talk I would try to my name is city Anderson I do live in Fairfax and when I heard that proposed site was going to be on the Lindettton line or when Lynn County was working on their ordinance to do a 2.25 mile setback, you look at a map and you do 2.25 mile

setback and boom, that's the only place it can go. at I don't know if it was the Kirkwood meeting or the meeting that they align came to uh Fairfax council meeting they said that the EMS was going to be Atkins they hadn't even talked to them. I don't know if anyone on the Atkins city council city staff anything I don't know if anybody has been talked to. What about your public health? Has anybody talked to the Benton County public health? These things are important and the lion is skipping over every step that to all of us seems like should have happened first. It's very concerning that none of the Benton County residents who live right there were even taken into consideration. It's very concerning that it appears that you guys weren't discussed. No one said, "Hey, we want to do this. It's going to affect your county, but if we don't tell you, then maybe we can slip it in." I find the process that Alliance is using suspicious. They're already at the point of the Iowa Utilities Commission. It is in their hands. Alliant has not less than 30 days from March 23rd to file their application. That is their formal application to get this started. If Benton County supervisors don't take action, the only way we can do anything is for all of us to submit paperwork through

the Iowa Utilities Commission electronic filing system. That is our only evidence. That's the only thing that they can count. We had a meeting on the 23rd and hundreds of people showed up, but ultimately our voices weren't recorded. They can't be taken as evidence. And does it matter? It matters. I'm here to tell you today that it matters. I went through this in Fairfax. They wanted it in our backyard and the airport had a lot to do with it because we're really close. I can't imagine that county residents want it any more than a town resident. I don't know if people in Atkins if they really understand how close this will be to them. If they understand the impact county will get zero zero from this, but yet they want your EMS to be their first responders. This isn't about people. This is about a large corporation looking to their future and they will tell you that it's for their customers. But if you look at the rural people, they're not their customers. That those are the ones that affected the most. So I urge you to deep dig deep think and do what you can to protect all of us because ultimately we have to live with it. They get to go away onto another county, another state. So please take to heart what people say. Look at the data. As far as I can tell, they've done no studies. There's no water study, no

energy study. They haven't even talked to the public health. Everything seems backwards. So, please do what you can. Thank you. City Atkins have administrator and the council. I hear two cents from you.

Thank you for inviting me. I was actually just going to come up as a very difficult policy. you did a very nice job articulating a lot of the concern. Apologize for my cold, but uh Atkins mentioned many times and in terms of the outreach that Alliant has made made or has not made uh to the city of Atkins. I think uh like some of you I watched your previous board of supervisors meeting I understood you learned for the first time some of these particulars uh Tracy at that meeting on the 23rd which I also attended. uh you know I had uh gotten a copy of I think what I would describe as just a boilerplate invitation to attend that meeting on the 23rd that went out probably to hundreds of other people. So it's certainly not particularized to Atkins in any way whatsoever. That was not preceded by any sort of uh verbal conversations uh giving us any insight as to what uh the project was or the need for the project. anything that we might uh be able to better understand uh what the project was and what the need for the project was. So uh so like some of you I attended that meeting and learned for the very first time uh where the project was located. Uh and I was shocked uh you know we had I think early on news reports kind of were a bit aloof in the description of where the location would be somewhere in this general area. Uh but again, I was very surprised uh to learn uh where the location was and uh surprised to understand that uh it doesn't appear that uh there's been much reach out to uh many of the other municipalities or Benton County uh as well. So uh we did I extend an invitation to representatives from Alliant uh to attend an upcoming city council meeting for Atkins. as uh our our growth projections are in the southeast area of our community which is directed right towards this particular

location. So we have some concern about that and how a power plant might impact the ability for our community to grow in that direction. Not aware of any uh fringe development plans that are entered into between uh Atkins and the county or ling county or vice versa. Uh so we did extend that invitation uh to representatives alliance and essentially at this point they put uh from what has been communicated to me uh at least in terms of uh my city council meeting uh we put that on pause. So uh the invitation still holds holds today. We'd love to have them come to an Atkins city council meeting so that the mayor and council could be better informed as to what the need for the power plan is and and understand uh ways that they could be more responsive to citizens in Atkins and their questions and concerns because we've gotten a lot of them. Uh and uh so again at this point that invitation is uh on pause. So I do not know when uh we might get that opportunity. So yeah, that's all I have. I guess anybody has any questions for you, but you know, I think we just appreciate the opportunity to uh get your input on it as well. I think Alliance is obviously a extremely large company and I think for a smaller community like Fairfax or Atkins to to attempt to take them on legally, that's a tall tall ask. uh we would we would just like to best understand what the need for the power plant is, why the location determination was made there and probably not real happy about the lack of prior communication. Even as late as the I believe the 23rd, I had talked with someone from Alliance and they could not tell me uh the location as where it's a location. Can't tell me the location. Come to the meeting, find out. Okay. Uh I've said uh

I understood you were looking like 30 acres in Fairfax or something like that. What was the need for the additional 160 on the option? Come to the meeting. Come to the meeting. Couldn't get any anything on that. Uh and just a variety of those questions. So I did any effort I made to try to understand it prior to that uh information meeting on the 23rd. There was there was not much.

I have a quick question for you. Um, time is of is of the essence here. And if Atkins sits back and waits for them to come to you, the only information that they will give you is that presentation. You can look at the Fairback City Council meeting. They weren't even answering answering the council questions and um a copy of that deck has been provided. So based on the information that you collected or the research, can acting go ahead and have a special meeting and state a position on this project because that needs because then we can the community can be alerted the get the ball rolling and if not how can we still work with you guys on getting the word out in Atkins because I agree. I mean

how do we do that without even the city council? No. Well, I think the word's out. There's definitely the the word's out. So, how are people contacting your office? Oh, yes. We've had many contacts.

Okay. So, how can we I guess we need to have a conversation about how our group can work with the people, you know, in Atkins. Who are those leaders? Who are those, you know, those types of things? But I'm just curious on when is Atkins going to take a position? Because if you wait for a lion, we know you're not going to get very far and they have the advantage to putting you off, right? I mean, like same happened here. So, I'm just wondering I'm just we're all very stressed about that and just even reaching out to the other cities and just saying, you know, what do you guys know? Helping to educate them. We can go to those council meetings, too. But yeah, I just we've been um supporters and I've done a lot for the Atkins community. I mean, that's like our kind of our second home. So, I just really want to know what what the plans are instead of to kind of like the sitting and wait mode.

Yeah. So I would say at this point our next regular meeting is April 14th which is in this window of opportunity for us to to make a comment if we wish to as a political subdivision of the state of Iowa City of Vatican may or may not do that but I would anticipate probably at that meeting we'd have some uh conversation about this and taking a statement on it. Uh once again uh I will reach back out to Alliant and give them another opportunity uh to participate at a council meeting where they can inform mayor and council about their plans and the need for them. And I think at some point you just have to make a decision based on what you do know or don't know. And it will be left if they wish to leave it in the hands of elected officials based on making decisions on what they don't know. Well then that's a risky proposition. Would you consider a special meeting to push it up? I mean, that's

that's halfway through April. I mean, I'm just That's a suggestion. I mean, just a I I think I would say this if it were uh to accommodate a schedule of all if they said uh we can we cannot be there on the 14th, but we could be here on the 7th. I think the council and there would probably be favorable to accommodate that. Okay. Again, it's just a sense of urgency because they've been working on this for how long and it's just a way to pull the people together. So, okay. Thank you. Yeah, we we do wish there was a little more information sharing uh throughout the process, but it just is not I just I'm sorry. Go ahead.

I just have a question for Atkins and and Ben County. I'm not sure how to ask this or if it's a question you want or even know the answer to, but my question is how do you uh can you and I think will you is a question I'm not going to answer, but how do you guys engage with the IU as a homeowner? The only thing I can do is put a comment or an objection into the IUC's website. Is it different for you guys or is that you guys just submit on behalf of Bank County or Atkins?

I don't know that the process is any different really. I think whether we passed a resolution uh opposing it or whatever, it would be the same kind of comment that any citizen could make. So, okay. But would the would the Benton County attorney have a method of communication to the IU attorneys for additional questions on the process that would get better answers than just us trying to submit comments through the website? Um I I have not dealt personally since I'm here with the Iowa Commission and so I'm unfamiliar with their procedures in process. So I I would have to look up to even see that because um to see what's even possible because if they're an administrative uh entity, which it sounds like they are, they have their own separate rules. the Iowa statutes that look up to the possibilities are you know per

they're quasi political so they have their own rules and regulations but they it is covered in an Iowa statutes right under the prior certain situations

right y to the point of Atkins havingformational session that alliances declined at the moment to come to Iowa code used 10 mile impact zone from the site. If you go 10 miles from that corner into Benton County, you you include a lot of people. It's not just the city of Atkins. I suggest that Benton County needs to do something potentially to get more information to their citizens regarding this because that's I don't know what the population is if I took a 10 mile circle out of that part of Benton County, but it's a lot of people I know. So Benton County potentially needs to do something a little more and maybe Benton County needs to try to get Alliance to have some sort of input on this. My guess is they're going to do the same thing that they're doing the Vaticans. They're what we keep hearing they say that yes, we're going to cooperate and we're going to do studies and we're going to communicate with people and then it's always a caveat at the end which we are going to do we're going to follow the law which equates to we're going to do minimal just to satisfy the law. Well, the law in this case doesn't require a lot of things that seem to be common sense to us as citizens. We need additional research and push back potentially from legal avenues because the law isn't clear on some of this. And Alliant, they've done this many times. So they they know exactly what the minimal standard is and they're not going to tell you that they're following the minimal standard, but ultimately that's what they're going to do when this if this these things come to court.

It's always about literally the letter of the law in the court. It's not about whether I said I was going to be a good community steward and I was going to do these studies. I'll do the studies and I'll give them to you after the P plan is built potentially for certain studies. There are certain studies that maybe need to be done first, but a lot of the studies that people are talking about, I don't think there is a an actual requirement for them to produce. John, do you have something to say?

The one thing I want to mention is what ends up happening in a situation like this. They put an application into the Iowa utility commission and then the utility commission decides if there's going to be a hearing. If there's a hearing, then everyone can become an intervenor. An intervenor functions just like an attorney. You can have expert witnesses. You can interrogate other witnesses. And that's what the IU IU would use to make a decision on this. Everything that happens in that hearing and all the public comments. So if a city like Atkins wants to inter be an intervenor, you can do that. I'm coming here so you can see me a little bit better and I can see you. Um, so, um, we we're all trying to be really polite here, but the reality is, don't you, as the supervisors of Ben County feel outrage, maybe discuss, maybe like, hey, we're good neighbors and you're not being treated like that. This is things that are going to affect your citizens, maybe affect you personally. And the letter of the law says we only have to notify Lynn County, but this is going to affect Benton County. And you're being left out of the process. I mean, all of us in here, we're being polite, but yes, we're holding anger and outrage that this is not how neighbors and people, we're all citizens of Iowa. you know, we have the Iowa, you know, kind of the Iowa pride and yet that's not how we're being treated here. I mean, we know the the parent company of Alliant is based in Wisconsin, so what

do they care, you know, and but Ben County doesn't get to be treated like the whatever, you know, the the poor relation, the, you know, the one that doesn't count and Lynn County because it's got Cedar Rapids and because of their big development, like I want you guys to also like where's the outrage and and the fact that we're being forced to move quickly and all of this is dumped in our lap and align it. You know, the corporations, as we know, businesses, they run it and then we get to come up and prove that what they're doing is is not right or maybe needs to be rethought. And and this is how our country works. This is what the power we've given corporations. But I'd like you to just tap into your outrage. You're the supervisors of Benton County and you had to go in search of this and your citizens and the people of your county are at risk here and have not been notified, have not been given the proper respect that's due. Any power plant, it should be a radius from the plant of who gets to be notified, not a county line or a city boundary. So, I guess I just want to say to you guys, reach reach into that that that we're all here being polite and I'm trying to be polite and yet also we're all holding on to the anger and the outrage of how we and our county and our community is being treated. So, I just wanted to like just tap into that like that that how are you guys being treated? You're the supervisors of Benton County. how you're not less than any other county. You're not less than Lynn County. And yet, you weren't notified. You weren't there to be able to help and support your people and get input on this project that affects your county, your land, your farmland, all of us. So, thank you. JUST

I just have one quick thing, a question for you guys. After listening to all these comments, I would like to hear from you guys what you guys feel. Give me a minute. Andrew, do you want to add anything that's gone on here in the last 10 days?

Um, yeah. So, I attended the meeting. Again, I didn't hear anything about it until it was last minute. I'm kind of trying to play catch up with everything as well. Um, I'm Andrea Morris. I work for the environmental health department. Um I've been a we kind of looked at the meetings from link county supervisors just to see what they were working on. Um I know in the meeting on the 23rd with the line they said that the data center or the how plan wasn't being built for the data center but one of the link county supervisors explicitly said that it was for the data centers. Um, I've been reviewing the ordinance for Lake County and one of the things that I was concerned about and I kind of been talking with um, is that it right now Atkins is just 1.9 miles away from this um, power plant which goes against the link county ordinance of at least having 2.25. And so my concern is that if you're being uh, if you're enforcing that ordinance for their cities, why are they not enforcing it for our cities? Um, and I think we talked too about potentially doing an ordinance for Bentley County just to be able to protect us. The concern with that is that again that's not in our county. So I don't know if we have any jurisdiction being able to enforce a Ben County ordinance for a link county power plant. Um, we have been trying to learn more about the process. I I did get a number from Alliant. It was a 1-800 number. So you KNOW THEY'RE LIKE TO COOPERATE. UM, but I am looking I am going to be contacting them and kind of getting more information. I know the IUC said that citizens do not have access to whatever the DNR investigation is going to be and at least on behalf of Bentley County. I'd like to be able to be part of that investigation or at least be knowledgeable that in investigation for us to understand what the impact in our near nearby community is going to be.

The impact zone according to the EPA is three miles. They don't have a specific rule, but that's what they use as their base for the immediate impact zone. State of Iowa uses an overall impact zone of 10 miles. Lynn County in crafting the ordinance was trying to get something more than the 2.25 25 they eventually settled on because it in political circles obviously they're getting pressure from Alliance and other communities at the C Rapids. So they ended up with at the 2.25 because the health the Lynn County Health Department through analysis that we're not really privy to decided that that was the immediate impact zone in Lyn County. That's not to say that that really is, you know, why does EPA say three? Why does Iowa say 10 if it's 2.25? None of those took prevailing winds into account. So obviously a 2.25 25 mile setback. It as a circle doesn't really effectively regulate a plant that's sitting where 70% of the time emissions are going one single direction and 30% of the time they're going the other direction and then at various odd times they're going elsewhere. That adds up to a little more than 100%, but you get my point. So Iowa State has studies going all the way back to the 1970s on the winds at any location in Iowa. So that data is available. And that data when you overlay that data on top of this site, it turns out, as I said, it's

just a horrible pick. You don't put a site like this adjacent to communities in Iowa. when you put them to the the south southwest or the north northwest of any community and that's exactly what's happened here and my conversation was with Alliant Alliance has literally said the reason that we picked this site is because we have a willing land owner. So it's not about this is the best site for any particular reason other than we can get it there and we don't have to worry about Bent County because we're 30 feet away from it. I think it's brilliant to go back to Lynn County and ask the supervisors to amend the ordinance because no application has been made by Alliant Energy yet and it's 2.25 regardless of whether it's in another county or not. That would be a good first step. That's a really outstanding idea right there. All right. Um, I attended the meeting. Andrea was with me. And of course, uh, as for being upset, yeah, I'm not happy not being a good neighbor, I think. Um, I have some things in my mind that I want to try. Uh, I don't want to let them out cuz I feel like the the meeting I attended with Alliant Energy, uh, they weren't forthcoming. So, I kind of feel since we have a camera right here, plus it's up going out on YouTube, I don't want to be forthcoming on my thoughts, but I want to try. uh haven't talked to these two guys yet much about they kind of know I give a quick overview of the meeting last week

you know and we haven't really discussed anything about this uh my phone rings off the wall I think during the meeting I think I had three calls now from YouTube but I don't want to get into that right now uh so that's kind of where I'm at. There's things I want to try want to do discuss with our county attorney uh and see where it falls. But as for the public, I left that docket number home. Maybe Jan, you have it 222, whatever it is. GCU 202600.

Yes, that's it.

Sorry. I mean, for the public out there, send them an email, you know, sit at home and send them an email. You know, it don't have to be very long. Just I'm like you. I'm haven't seen any report on the pollution that it'll create. I'd like to see that. Any studies they've done, none of that was presented at the meeting. Uh gas line, I did ask about that. Where's the natural gas line going to come from to supply the plant? Uh, wasn't decided yet what I was told. Uh, there's too many questions here to give them a green light. Even though it's across the county line, it's hard for us three guys sitting here cuz it's across the line. But to me, just being a good neighbor if we could have worked together. But this is where I'm at. I I've got some things in my mind I want to try. Whether they're not kosher, I don't know. But we'll find out, won't we?

City attorney doesn't want to hear that.

Our county attorney. I guess I fortunate that I am in the completely opposite corner of where this is at. But I would say that we've had other situations like this before. And I would ask that the supervisors be proactive on this and don't don't wait and backpedal like we like to do in government and do the slow roll because these companies will roll over top of you. So I would say you need to do something last night. So I guess as a Benton County citizen I say get moving.

We will. And I don't give you those very often. Okay. Okay. Can I make one more comment? Sure.

Uh I appreciate your statement of getting on there and making the email. I think the the Iowa Utilities Commission though that is the only place that any of our voices are heard and the more that you guys and anybody any elected official, city official, anybody can just kind of reiterate that we appreciate you having ideas that fighting for all of us and even us across the county line. Thank you for that. Um, but I submitted mine. Mine was a four-page document. I think you can see everyone's if you get if you make uh an account through them, you can see everyone's complaints. Um I would urge anybody to just make the account at minimum. Look at what the complaints are. You know, because you probably have in your mind the things that you're upset about. You know, see if someone else has put it into words that maybe ask the questions that I see a little bit better. Um something that you can kind of put into your own words or have ideas, right? But we need to get those complaints on there and there needs to be more than there is now.

And it has to go on the electronic file filing system public record. Isn't that correct? Right. And that's really key. And it's not an easy process. You can't just send an email like you suggested. You literally have to go on and create an account

and then once you have the account, you have to log in with that account and you have to file your question or your comment with the docket number. Otherwise, you won't be heard. You'll think you were heard, but you won't because the letter of the law or the letter of their rules is that you only do it a certain way. Otherwise, it doesn't matter what you say. Kind of like everything that was said at the m at the 23rd meeting, all those things that you heard, none of that's on record. None of that matters literally to anybody. And be aware, you can sign up so you get notifications. So every time there's a comment, you get an email about it. When they file their application, you get an email.

Could you tell me that document number? Cuz I can put a plug in the miniature. It's GCU- 2026-00002.

Thank you. I'll put it in the minutes with something about the they are correct on there. If you call the Iowa Utilities Commission, you will get their help desk and they literally will walk it through you to get you signed up, create your account. They are very, very helpful. But as he said, you have to file it and file more than one. It this is the evidence that the three is it three panel commission will look at to make their determination to award or not award Alliant their application. So that's our only voice is to be online

then Jan and like you uh John if you guys would actually head up you know people that could come or you know to do an email like elderly people can't do an email or something like that. if you can kind of form a committee or whatever. We have clear sheets about our group. We have a Facebook page where there's

I don't know if we're getting close to 200. We're like in 160s. There's an email people can use. So, it's a matter of I mean part of our goal is to get people online to make comments, get evidence, but it isn't an easy process and a lot of you know people don't even aren't online. So I think it's like or even helping them do that process. So we have lots of ideas about how we can facilitate. We need to find out what the rules are for like having information tables or events in the towns or even how the cities can help us with that or where we can even I mean can we leave some of these sheets here so people can see it?

I don't know what those rules I think we're that's we're just getting started. We're just having our second meeting of the group. I I think it's important to let you guys know that we are as a community moving as fast as we can as people that have jobs and have things have other priorities and families. Um but we are moving as absolute fast as we can to not only have a group that will help with this which that is on our things to talk about this evening. Um get people aware I mean we're we're trying to work at all angles. So we are I think that all things considered we are doing the absolute best that we can but we have we have a reasonable amount of people we we we will be getting as organized as possible moving forward but we that is one thing that we do plan to do. So maybe we can we'll get a little bit more information together tonight and try to maybe provide you guys and other governing bodies or elected officials information about if people are reaching out to you that need help. We are happy to help them. the there has been indication from the IEC that there is a a method where you can use snail mail because I know there's a lot of people in Benton County and Lyn County that aren't comfortable going on a website and getting an account and doing all that stuff.

We don't know, we don't have the exact specifics from the IC as how you can do that in your letter, your snail mail letter. You still have to reference that document for it to be included. But we're trying to get more information on what that snail mail process would be because I know there's a lot of people that would potentially rather do that than use the website and they will not take phone calls. You cannot call in with different places. No, I know that. Be aware that there's an office of consumer advocacy associated with the Utilities Commission and they have one objective and that's to help citizens voices be heard. So don't hesitate to work with them. They're a very good organization. Okay.

Now, you all came here today and we appreciate it very much and you've expressed all your concerns to the three of us. Um, I would also urge you to reach out to your state representative. Emails, phone calls. They take phone calls and you're going to get a form letter back from them, but they will respond to you. Um, I've done it on new I got escorted off the House floor one time. So, I'm telling you, they do listen to you. So, I would urge you all to contact your state representatives as well because if they don't hear from you, they don't know about it.

Even though they do, if you don't say something, they're not going to react. So, we need to get that information to them as well. And I'll do my part. I'll contact all of them. I don't have a problem doing I do it all the time. So, uh I would urge you to do that as well. And as far as what we can do, I'll do everything that I can to make sure that everybody that needs to know knows and to to try to see what we can do to help others. I did want to ask, I know you can't give specifics, but in in Iowa, I mean, this can't be the first time that one county has has tried to, you know, do something that is damaging to a neighboring county. Are there things in place. Is there something in the state that then the counties can go to and mediate, reconcile their differences come come together? I mean, is there something I mean, this we can't be the first time that that there's there's been something like this over the, you know, the uh county

the county but over the years that Iowa has been a state and had this form or is there just no way the counties have to try to reconcile their own differences or they just basically do things that damage each other and nobody nobody cares? I mean I just I'm asking not for specifics but is there something that you can go to if Lynn County is not amanable to kind of coming together is there a process okay we can't talk about it together but we bring a mediator or something and like is there a process in place or it's just no one count everybody gets to do what they want and the counties are not working together or is there some place we can go to the state and say you need to come down here and and and help this be worked out between counties. just ask. I I don't know this process. We figured there there might be that there has to be conflicts between counties given that Iowa has 99 of them.

The the state has a push currently where they want counties to work with each other uh different things that are going on whether it's secondary roads or share services. this seems to me like it would be a good place for us to do that. So isn't I mean is there some place in the state you can say like you know hey maybe you want to you know kind of get these guys in a room and and and point to that or like some you know in the in the state or an office or agency in the state that that

isn't there some specific rules in Iowa statutes regarding fringe boundaries between counties because this does and she's right it didn't just happened to this one. This has been happening for a hundred years where something on a on a line ends up being the fringe boundary conditions and I I've been told there's some special rules, but I don't I'm not the expert. Can you speak to that? You were going to say I cut you off. You were going to say something.

That's okay. Um, of course, I shouldn't said first. I'm one of the assistant county attorneys. Um and um you kind of probably heard through some of our early stuff today, there's only so much we can do property wise because some of it infringes on property privy owners which is outside county jurisdiction. So like before I go and answer your question which is simply like I'm in the process of researching because it's a very unique area and I'm trying to figure out how to best figure out an answer to that question. So it might take me some time and once I know then of course I can advise supervisors what the county options are. My other question is is has the group seek even or anybody in the group seek private representation as well?

We're working on it. If you have any suggestions that would be willing to band together and and see that that is probably my next point is because like I was you probably heard earlier today when we were talking about the fence line and all that good stuff

that that bridges with property a private property ownership and so like there's certain avenues open to private ownership obviously not open to public entities as well. So, you should at least find someone who's willing to work with you to give you advice on uh or counsel you on routes that you could probably take either as a group or as individuals. So, I would really highly suggest that because there's only so much you can provide outside within my scope of my

Yes. But it it I tried researching it a little bit this morning and I was like, "Oh, this is going to be a big project to try to figure out uh um because uh there might be some overlap stuff that I have to like work through and um and stuff. But once I be able I I keep in contact with these guys and figure out if there's an whether there's an option and what route that could be." So, right. Okay, that's all I can really say right now.

This topic, but tier one about the fence 359A and you know, one property owner compelling the other is that's pretty clear in there. That's a state level. That's not you guys. And then the other thing is um hostile possession is a different part of the code that is going to I think sounds to me like would potentially be part of their property line disputes. But yeah, I can't really comment on that. I know what you're talking about, but yeah.

Um, just a final question. It sounds like in general Benton County is not in favor of this PowerPoint. Is that something that you have enough information for that there could be any type of official position out there or are you guys more you're you have a problem with the power plant being built right now because they haven't provided enough information for you to make a decision. As of right now, I'm against it. I'm not for it at all. All right. Thank you for clarifying that.

That's me. I can tell you I've talked to hundreds of people in Benton County and 100% are against it. But listen to your constituents. I don't think that the line has read the room, but I don't think they care. I agree. To be honest with you, but um this is going to be a battle and I know what side I'm on. I'm on I'm on the side of you guys and Tracy and everyone else. But what we can do and where we have to go from here, that's what we have to figure out legally. I believe absolutely right there. Uh and I also believe you said it several times. Uh I don't know your name, sir.

Jay Hopkins. Okay. Mr. Hopkins. uh the meeting everybody attended from my understanding at some point in the meeting somebody from the Iowa utility board gets up and says they have met the that was part of the process exactly

uh so you can bet energy knows the process they have to follow and as you stated several times they will follow to the letter of the law. Is it right or wrong? They're going to follow it to the letter of the law. And I too am against this. Uh, you know, if it was being built somewhere where there's not a town within 10 miles, it's a good place. But basically uh 1.9 miles from one of our res uh representatives

1.7 1.7 it's closed. Be interesting to see his take.

Okay. Well, I think we discussed this pretty good today. We got to hear everybody's opinion on it. So, we'll all take an advisement and I think just maybe sit back and see what we do here in the next week or two. What we try? It's like a volunteer project for some reason. I'm trying to get her to take something, but she won't she won't do it. lot of volunteer work. It's not your volunteer work.

Are you telling me you're looking for a pain? No, I am not. For just retired looking for a pain, I take yours. There we go. Okay. Get back at the uh reports, gentlemen. Uh, I had two meetings last week and I uh kept my doctor's appointments and I never made a meeting. I slept through every one of them. We'll say I was

I had the uh H Heartland Insurance pool risk pool meeting last Thursday. Um, as always, they're very, very interesting. Um, we've got some events coming up. uh the uh uh and I've sent a message to you guys is regarding the training that we have to do every year, harassment, investment training. Um we do it inhouse and the pool is is fine with that. They said they they've signed off on that training and we're currently the only county in the pool that's doing that. Um and uh uh so they're on board. If we want to continue to do it, if Ray wants to then he'll the uh contract that Hartland Ghoul had was not with Brent's uh group. It was with him personally. So it doesn't affect anything.

Oh, so we still get We still get Brent.

Yeah, we still have we have we're contracted specifically with him. So, and then uh as far as the uh return to work program, uh Bren had uh uh he presented all of us a rather uh return to work uh uh program uh that I forwarded on to you guys uh to take a peek at um so that we can develop develop. So, that's that's some of the highlights of what that was all about. And I also was was supposed to have attended a uh uh historical preservation meeting Thursday night. My son called me and invited us over for dinner to see my grandson and I was like the dog and the squirrel. I my attention got focused on that and I forgot about the meeting. So I apologize to the reservation room for that. But that's what I have. Okay, I had EMS Zoom meeting with Derek on Wednesday. I think that went rather well. Um, got a lot of information here this week already. Uh, and I also had Eastern Iowa Trust Fund and Easy Cog on Thursday. And then uh Karen, our gal that was in charge of EasyCog, will retire here in April. And the new gal will take over. Um last night I had the EMA association with the sheriff's office. Uh they will This is another one. It's going to be fun. Dwayne Arnold used to take care of all the hazmat materials, the clothes, the

gloves, the face, the mask, the boots, uh, in case something happened. Okay. They house that all. They were the warehouse and distributor for the five counties around Dwayne Arnold in this area. All right. The new Dwayne Arnold that's going to be up and running does not want to be distributor. Does not want to be a warehouse. They want Benton County to be where is that going to go?

Yeah, it has to be a heated building to store all this stuff. Now, he's having a meeting right now as we speak with Dwayne Arnold and the company that supplies the gloves and the whole ball of wax cuz uh Dean could not last night tell me how big a room one stall garage, two stall garage, Morton building. Uh so that's something that we'll have to be looking at down the road. some kind of building, you know, because they wanted to participate financially though. What's their commitment on that?

The building, whatever building we've figured out where to put this stuff in is our baby. We'll have to put the the bill for that. As for the material that they need, uh the gloves and the gowns and all that, it's going to be a pass through. Benton County will get the invoice from the distributor. Uh Haley will pay that and then the bill will be sent to Dwayne Arnold for reimbursement. So, it's not going through the EMA, it's going to come through the actual county. I I think it's going through EMA. That's his budget. That's not ours. Yes.

Yes. So, did they talk about insurance on all that stuff? No. I mean, if there's content, we would want to ensure no. I see what they're hoping is for the weed building. Is that climate control though? Yes. Have furnace in it. Okay. Cuz I know when we disag stuff from the old school building out there, there was some old like those casual mass casualty things and bags and but they were so outdated and stuff get rid of them. Yeah. So I don't know if that would be an option but that would be out.

Another question. Let's say they put this warehouse and use that building. I know. See, that's what I said right away. That too. I don't want to go there. To me, like I said, I want to find out how much space they got to have. And then last night after the meeting, I drove around northeast of the courthouse. You know, I thought there is enough room two places. One, you could maybe put it in a sheriff inbound lot. the chain lake fence one place or the other one's right across the road where the small garage is

for the cabinets where the dumpster is the recycling there and the assessor parks the van and things in there too.

Yeah. Well, see last night there was only the red pickup there from the maintenance guys. So, like I said, I don't know how much area they want. I know he wants the big enough to put his pickup in. I still think I can work with the sheriff's department to get a different door in the machine or the Morton building open, you know, cut the header out, put a taller door in and get that EMA pickup in there cuz right now it's in there, but sooner or later this uh TAC one vehicle is going to show up and when that shows up, EMAs pickups going on side and that's too new and too nice of pickup just to set outside the elements. So, I haven't talked to the sheriff yet. Uh I was told they still got both them boats.

You know what I mean? We they got a new boat with uh ARPA money. Yes. ARPA money. So, to me, the second one summertime, let's get rid of it. So, that would free up a space there for maybe a pickup. But like I said, here. Yeah. So, who's going to be keeping track of every everything in the warehouse? Like I said, something that's going to be that is going to be uh Dean. So, he's going to be responsible for having to keep track of however long. Yes. If it's PP like that has to be rotated otherwise it expires.

Yep. Although that is that's all his all these other counties Lynn County, Duchanan County, Blackaw County, they're going to come here to get their stuff. Okay. And we wouldn't have to go out and distribute stuff. No, they come to us. We're going to be the warehouse. Tracy, I have a question about that. I understand that Dwayne Arnold doesn't want to do it, but who's required to do it? What does the NRC say about that? That I do not know. We shouldn't just take their word for it. That I don't know. I did not sit on that meeting

because that's a lot of money for the county just to say, "Oh, okay. We'll do it." I mean, it's a pass through, you know. I mean, it's not going to count for the material wise. It ain't going to cost the county nothing. No, but it's going to cost it's going to cost building if we do a building upkeep and personnel. Yep. So, and that's your most expensive right there. It's not the Well, personel should be the same. That won't be no difference. But if they're doing that job, what what are they not doing in Benton County?

So, why don't you offer a storage at the airport and charge you $100,000? I think that's a good idea. I like that. Wheels are turning. Right. Right. So, stuff gets done. So, Alliant is still involved with um doing Arnold. They still have 30% I think ownership. They sold 70%. No, they're not at all. Again, the customers had to pay $170 million for them to buy out of their purchase power purchase agreement. Next era is the owner.

Yes, but no, next area is the owner of nuclear plant and Cisco owns 20% of the energy produced. Google gets the remaining 80%. That's how that's set up.

Yeah, check your record. I'm I think records. It's it's my inside of the alliance that's telling me that they still have a piece of it. Anyway, my point was potentially you still have a gear, you know, to a different vein on because they want Ben County to do something. Okay, last but not least, the ASAC room are done now. I'm going to meet with some girls at 1:00. If we're out of here by then, um, Absolutely. And last but not least, uh EMS would like to have a meeting with us three sometime free three transports. So just throwing it out there. So when you get

in addition to the regular advisor Yeah. just us three and the three transports. Yeah. So when they decide when they can do it and what we can do it, you'll get notified and then we can have it happen. Okay. Gentlemen know that. Okay. Okay. Assuming that'll be at night time because they all have jobs. Yes, I would say so. Okay. Nothing. No. Anybody else? Perfect. Motion to adjurnn. I move to ajourn. Second. All right. Call for a vote.

Second. You and I. Res. We are done. You're awful quiet over there. Thank you. What? You're awful quiet. I am. You know