It was standing room only at the Webster County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday as many residents from Elkhorn Township came to voice their concern and disapproval of Summit Carbon Solutions.

The board’s agenda included “approval to allow Chair (Niki Conrad) to sign a designation of county inspector and supplemental agreement for additional services for proposed Summit Carbon Solutions permits to connect Poet facilities.” The item was approved unanimously by the board.

However, Supervisor Mark Campbell noted that the board was “approving inspectors who would be on top of this, and not the approval of permits for Summit Carbon Solutions.”

During the discussion on the designation of a county inspector specific to Summit Carbon Solutions and its proposed pipeline, resident Larry Faiferlick asked the board to state its stance on eminent domain. Campbell and Conrad noted that the board sent a letter in 2022 to the Iowa Utilities Commission stating that the board is against the use of eminent domain. Conrad read the letter aloud to those in attendance.

Campbell also reaffirmed at the close of the meeting that the board does not agree with the use of eminent domain as a means to take land from residents for private use.

Summit Carbon Solutions has planned a meeting for 6 p.m. today at Fort Frenzy in Fort Dodge. Members of the Board of Supervisors stated during Tuesday’s meeting that they plan to be in attendance.

The Board of Supervisors also approved agreements with Snyder & Associates, of Ankeny, for the Badger Trail Connection in the amount of $49,000, the Badger Lake Loop Trail in the amount of $24,600, and the Dayton Trail Project in the amount of $75,100. This includes all materials, equipment, transportation, and labor necessary to complete the improvements.

The board signed a letter of commitment to Heart of Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund in the amount of a match of $12,500 which is what the county has committed to in previous years.

A low bid of $2,600 from Dunbar Emergency Vehicle Services, LLC was accepted and placed on file for sheriff’s patrol car builds, as needed per vehicle. The contractor will install equipment such as light bars on the vehicles.

Three annual farm leases with the county were terminated during the meeting. Campbell said that the leases were year-long and the plan is to offer multi-year leases in the future.

Webster County Engineer Jamie Johll also noted that Route P59 is currently closed for railroad crossing repairs. The crossing closed on Monday and will be closed for the remainder of the week. Next week, Canadian National Railway plans to re-do the Simpson Street crossing in Duncombe. Johll stated that that crossing will also be closed for approximately one week.

Webster County Auditor Doreen Pliner reminded residents that absentee voting has begun for the City of Fort Dodge special election on franchise fees. That election is Sept. 10.

Before the meeting was adjourned, several members of the public addressed the board with concerns ranging from the process for parceling land, road maintenance, and septic permits.