By Zach Jensen,
(Originally published – in full – in the December 7 Public Opinion, available in print and online. Certain content is presented first to subscribers (print and digital), then released for consumption later)
Winneshiek County supervisors are in disagreement over the terms of the proposed sale of 4.7 acres of county property to Iowa Rotocast Plastics, Inc.
During the Board of Supervisors Dec. 4 meeting, Supervisor Shirley Vermace suggested the purchase agreement include the requirement that if the land is used for the company’s solar array as previously discussed, the panels must be mounted atop native prairie plantings, allegedly in order to retain any benefit against flooding the property may provide.
“It is a flood area, and why would we let control of that go to the highest bidder, because we don’t know who the highest bidder would be,” Vermace said. “We have no idea. I don’t think the residents of Freeport well – eight of them – don’t want development there. Most of Freeport, doesn’t even know we’re talking about this today. And yes, they can come to a public hearing, but if you pass a resolution today that doesn’t have any deed restrictions in it, it’s done. It’s a done deal.”
Supervisor Mark Faldet agreed with Vermace and added that while “this particular entity wants to do with it, they might not be the highest bidder. So, if we don’t put some restrictions on there, then it’s wide open for someone to take choice of what they want to do with that piece of land. So, if we’re intent on selling it, certainly, I think it’s in our best interest to be considerate of Freeport and the original intent of the previous boards […] . It’s certainly not going to hurt us.”
Vermace said the prior board of supervisors identified the property as a buffer zone for flooding, but Supervisor Steve Kelsay said that’s not the correct use for the piece of land, which is zoned M2 – the zoning ordinance categorized for heavy industrial areas.
“That’s not what the property was intended to be, so that we have development and increasing tax base inside of Winneshiek County,” said Kelsay. “That is not flood-prone. It may have had water on it – that’s a fact. But, it doesn’t change the issue that it’s M2 zoning, and it’s within our industrial park. And, to take and put that restriction on properties that are not, […] why didn’t we do it to the entire thing? Freeport has a water problem.”
“Many of those residents were there before it became an industrial park,” Vermace replied.
“They still bought a property that they knew was close to the Upper Iowa River,” Kelsay rebutted. “Buyer beware. That’s part of owning a piece of property.”
Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines suggested, “I wondered if, rather than saying ‘solar field,’ maybe you need to say something like what Steve said – a raised development that wouldn’t restrict water flow – rather than specifically saying ‘solar field,’ because then it seems like you’re favoring one bidder versus others.”
Further discussion on the issue will be held at the supervisors’ Monday, Dec. 11 meeting, so the county attorney can make changes to incorporate the restrictions discussed Monday.
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