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Benton County approves utility permit for MidAmerican Energy gas pipeline; start date unclear
Summary
Supervisors approved a utility permit for MidAmerican Energy to install a roughly 1.5‑mile natural gas pipeline through Benton County farm fields to improve service for a Cedar Rapids business; county staff said bids are being opened and a start date was not yet confirmed.
The Benton County Board of Supervisors approved a utility permit allowing MidAmerican Energy to install a gas pipeline running southeast from the 218 gas substation for about 1.5 miles, crossing county roads and farm fields in Eagle Township. County staff said the project includes a short tie‑in location near 20 Fifth Avenue and associated driveway work at that connection point.
County staff briefed the board that the project will require easements in a short segment of Benton County and neighboring Linn County to meet a local business’s increased gas needs in Cedar Rapids. "There is a pretty short segment in Linn County and a short segment in Benton County that needed to be addressed in order to accommodate that business needs," a county official said.
Staff said MidAmerican has not yet finalized the contractor or an exact start date; bids were being opened and the county would sign a contract for inspection and reimbursement when MidAmerican provided the schedule. "We've had some people change hands... they're hoping the middle of the month," a staff member said, adding that the county inspector and MidAmerican inspection contract would need to be finalized before work starts.
Board members voted to approve the utility permit and asked staff to continue coordinating schedules, plan routing details and prepare the county inspection agreement that MidAmerican will reimburse.
