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Floyd County Board of Adjustment ponders permit for grain terminal

by Matt Marquardt –

NORA SPRINGS – Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company  has filed an application with the  Floyd County Board of Adjustment to have a grain terminal facility on a  34.56 acre parcel of land just south of Nora Springs and the Avenue of the Saints.

The grain terminal facility would have 1.9 million bushels of upright storage and 1.2 million bushels of underground storage.  There would be a 25 railcar loading facility connected to the Iowa Northern Railroad.  Projected corn crop increases in Iowa make the location ideal, according zoning board meeting minutes from February 27, 2012.  About 10 jobs would be produced, as well.

The land is owned by H.J. Marshall Farms Corp. and is located in the  Rockford Township, near the corner of Avon Avenue and 180th Street.

The board will be holding a public meeting and hearing at that site Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Neighbors and landowners in the immediate area are voicing strong opposition to the proposed conditional use and have acquired legal counsel.

The board, at their last meeting on February 27th, could have voted on the measure but opposition showed up and presented their case to the board, who then postponed a vote until after the public hearing.  The board will go back to Nora Springs after this on-site public hearing and deliberate/discuss the issue; a vote could be taken at that time on the issue.

In presenting their request to the board, ADM seemed somewhat willing to work with the board and citizens to work out their differences.  However, it was stated in the meeting minutes that “the property owners present were still in strong opposition to the project regardless of what options ADM offered to abate some of their concerns.”

The board’s main concerns seemed to be the maintenance and any improvements that may be needed on 180th Street, which is gravel, and where funds would come from to pay for that.

Citizens in opposition to the project listed safety (truck traffic and proximity to an in-home daycare) issues as a main concern.  Other concerns they have are dust from the gravel road (180th Street) and its overall poor condition, negative economic impact to landowners and lowered quality of life.

Stay tuned for more information on this developing story.

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