Residents pressed the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on wind-turbine setbacks during the public-comment period, arguing higher turbines and shorter setbacks could endanger livestock and create long-term cleanup problems.

Jeff Fisher, who identified himself as a resident of Pleasant Grove Township and owner of a 300-acre farm, said a tornado that crossed his land in April 2024 left debris in hay fields and warned that ‘‘if that would have happened with windmills in place in these fields ... fiberglass blade debris would have been scattered throughout my hay fields and my pasture.’’ He asked the board to set ‘‘the setback requirements be far enough to hopefully prevent windmill parts or pieces from ever reaching any of my property lines’’ and proposed special cleanup provisions and fines to cover damage to animals and property.

Charles Tompkinsons, who said the county previously adopted a 1,800-foot setback in its ordinance, disputed a prior comment that ‘‘a small piece of fiberglass would basically be harmless’’ and emphasized public-safety data: ‘‘The majority of tornado fatalities are caused by exposure to high speed debris.’’ Tompkinsons warned that increasing turbine height without proportional setback increases would expand the debris field and invite litigation, and urged the board to favor safety.

Don Rolts, who said he has ‘‘40 years with USG’’ and recently retired as a plant manager, said industry operations can be conducted safely when standards from OSHA, MSHA and state agencies are followed and urged that ‘‘we've gotta make sure our setbacks are in there and they're in there correctly.’’

Board members and planning staff noted that a draft wind ordinance is near completion and that the county board of health had tabled making recommendations pending further research. The meeting record shows speakers asked staff to bring maps and more detailed setback language back to the board for consideration.

The board did not take a final vote on setback changes during this meeting; public comments and staff updates indicate further work on the ordinance will continue in coming meetings.