(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session Tuesday morning. Board Chairman Steve Kenkel provided a report on the results of the Shelby County Pipeline Ordinance Injunction.

The County has 30 days to respond to the ruling. Legal counsel is reviewing the situation. Kenkel on his position concerning the pipeline proceedings thus far.

He noted none of the six ethanol plants within 60 miles of Harlan, have signed-on with any of the three proposed carbon pipeline companies coming through Iowa.

Janice Gaul, Mayor of Earling, spoke and mentioned that Earling is a small town and has retirees and working-class citizens with children; the children often play at the baseball diamond and playground unsupervised and the proposed pipeline only has a 50 foot limit from those areas. That is also the distance the pipeline can pass by the Earling water supply. Sherry Webb spoke about her family’s century farm that the pipeline route is intended to cross, and she does not want this to be forced to have this project cross her family farm. In other business:

• The regional Representatives for Senator Joni Ernst and Representative Randy Feenstra were in attendance to listen to Tuesday’s proceedings. Abby Vander Werf (Feenstra) and Brittany Rockwell (Ernst) introduced themselves and will presumably report back to the officials that they represent.
• Brandon Burmeister gave a report of Secondary Road happenings and asked the Supervisors to approve and upgrade a level B service roadway to a level A roadway, a portion of 660th street west to m56. The landowner requesting the upgrade is paying for this service. Schaben made a motion to approve the upgrade, Parkhurst seconded the motion the motion passed.
• Todd Valline of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed the Board of Supervisor of the many Chamber events and programs including today’s all member meeting and goals set forth for the upcoming year.
  

  Shelby County BOS meeting, 7-18-23

The Supervisors then considered a formal Resolution 2023-42 required by the Iowa DOT to process the grant application by Shelby County Trails. Support of the grant is required to be in Resolution form to be accepted for consideration. Schaben made a motion to approve the resolution and Parkhurst seconded the motion the motion passed after Kenkel, Parkhurst and Schaben all voted in favor of passage, no nays were cast.

Taya Vonnahme from the Manning Regional Recovery Center was invited by the Supervisors to explain the services that the Recovery Center Provides, specifically the Opioid Addiction function of the Center. Shelby County is on track to receive opioid treatment funding in the coming years and Vonnahme representing a regional center, that does serve Shelby County asked for Manning Regional Health to be considered as a recipient of a portion of the funds available

Anna Schwarte, of Shelby County Public Health spoke to the Supervisors about expending funds for from the opioid litigation funds for her organization to inform and provide information to Shelby County schools about recognizing opioid types, use and overdoses. Supervisor Parkhurst motioned to award Public Health $3,000 for this service provided by Public Health. And $21,000 this fiscal year to be spent on prevention and treatment of opioid addiction. The motion passed as presented.

Shelby County Treasurer, Carolyn Blum was on the agenda to have the Supervisors inspect and vote on approval of her Semi-Annual report. Schaben made a motion to approve the report and Parkhurst seconded the report, the motion carried. Blum noted that County Treasurers are now allowed to charge a $10.00 fee for out of County drivers licenses and identifications. This is called a convenience fee and used to offset the costs that were 100% paid by county residents for this service to out of County residents for licenses and Identifications.

The supervisors reported on the various committees that they are assigned it was noted that Steve Kenkel who will have a report next meeting on the Iowa Utilities Board Process and Charles Parkhurst reported that there are funds with MAPA available for trails.