Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pipeline topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge Wright County to review draft CO2 pipeline ordinance; board says planning staff has a draft
Summary
Residents pressed the Wright County Board of Supervisors to pursue setback and protection measures for a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline. Supervisors said the county planning office has draft materials but put further action on hold while other counties face litigation.
Julie Glade, a resident, told the Wright County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 that citizens are concerned about Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed CO2 pipeline and asked the board to approve protection ordinances with setbacks.
Glade said she wanted follow-up from county staff on an ordinance draft referenced at a prior meeting. “I just wanted to follow-up on last week's meeting,” she said, asking whether a draft ordinance existed and how it would come up for public review.
Chairman Rick Rasmussen and Supervisor Dean Cloos said the Wright County Planning and Zoning Commission has been working on an ordinance, but that its progress was paused while other counties faced litigation over similar ordinances. Jeremy, identified in the meeting as planning and zoning staff, said the county has a draft “information concerning the ordinance” but that it is not in effect and should be treated carefully if distributed.
The board did not take formal action on the pipeline or an ordinance at the meeting. Supervisors said they would reach out to the county planning and zoning director to determine next steps; one supervisor suggested reviewing drafts and talking with other counties that have considered ordinances. A county official told the board that two readings of an ordinance could be completed and a third deferred if the board wanted to retain the option to adopt quickly later, but the board noted that that was a legal question for counsel.
Public comments at the meeting also included concerns reported by a resident who had attended a neighboring county meeting: questions about well impacts along proposed routes and uncertainty about timing and use of eminent domain by the pipeline company. The board heard that Summit Carbon Solutions representatives have been meeting with counties and expected to return to brief local boards.
Board members made no vote or directive that adopted policy at the Jan. 27 meeting; staff follow-up was the only clear next step recorded.
