FOREST CITY — Winnebago County leaders are considering changes to county zoning rules aimed at some of the biggest and fastest-growing development issues facing rural Iowa, including data centers, large solar developments, battery fields and cryptocurrency operations.
Supervisor Terry Durby raised the issue during the September 22 meeting of the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors, discussing possible changes to the county’s zoning ordinance to specifically address solar, battery fields, crypto operations and data centers.
The discussion touched on several potential concerns surrounding such developments, including water consumption, protection of county roads, electrical rates, requirements for eventually dismantling facilities and community host agreements.
No zoning change was approved during the September 22 meeting. The discussion instead signals that Winnebago County officials are considering how county regulations should address these types of projects.
Road projects moving forward
County Engineer Scott Meinders updated supervisors on several Winnebago County road projects.
Micro-surfacing work on County Road A38 had been pushed to the following week and was expected to proceed one lane at a time using pilot cars.
Sealing work on R16 was also expected the following week. Officials anticipated closing the entire four-mile section for one day while that work was completed.
County truck drivers were working on brush cutting, while the dirt crew was working on a concrete box culvert. Another culvert replacement was underway on 420th.
More than $167,000 transferred
Supervisors unanimously approved two auditor transfers.
Transfer No. 4054 moved $161,901.75 from the Rural Basic fund to Secondary Roads, while Transfer No. 4055 moved $5,449.31 from Rural Basic to the Winnebago County Fair.
The board also approved payroll claims.
Among other business, the Winnebago County Auditor’s Office received manure management plans No. 64709 and No. 64712 from Bluestem Farms LLC.
Claims approved
The supervisors ordered the following claims paid:
- Alliant Energy — Utilities — $313.66
- Amazon Capital Services — Supplies — $255.79
- Black Hills Energy — Utilities — $521.00
- Bomgaars — Supplies — $298.13
- Chelsey Ostrander — Mileage — $41.57
- City of Forest City — Utilities — $700.00
- City of Lake Mills — Utilities — $243.27
- Gold Eagle Coop — Fuel — $103.00
- Greenfield Services — Services — $26,802.92
- GRP & Associates — Services — $43.00
- Hy-Vee Inc — Jail Food — $9,826.58
- Iowa Law Enforcement Academy — Education — $125.00
- ISAC — Health Insurance — $97,866.00
- ISACA — Education — $275.00
- J. Robert Hopson — Services — $600.00
- JCL Solutions — Supplies — $1,361.53
- Karla Weiss — Mileage — $59.28
- Kaycee Kruger, CVR, CSR — Services — $13.00
- Kelsey Beenken — Mileage — $325.52
- Kenna Baez — Mileage — $190.00
- Language Line Services — Services — $101.44
- Legal Shield — Services — $288.25
- Meaghan Welter — Mileage — $36.93
- Medline Industries Inc — Supplies — $259.69
- Midwest Group Benefits — Services — $104.00
- Miller Pharmacy — Supplies — $441.75
- Motion Industries Inc — Supplies — $1,529.49
- Next Generation Tech Services — $483.00
- Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. — Services — $2,647.74
- River City Glass — Parts — $495.00
- Schumacher Elevator Co. — Services — $278.68
- Serenity Apartments — Rent — $1,100.00
- Shanna Eastvold — Mileage — $95.76
- Waste Management Corporate Services — Services — $231.49
- Wellmark BC/BS — Services — $3,199.27
- Winnebago County Tribune — Advertising — $161.55
Supervisors Bill Jensvold, Terry Durby and Susan Smith were all present for the September 22 meeting. The board unanimously approved the agenda and minutes from its September 15 meeting.
The meeting adjourned until 9 a.m. September 29.