Hardin County board recommends Summit Farms construction permit to Iowa DNR after public hearing

Kent Krause, a consultant with the Pinnacle Group in Iowa Falls, told the Hardin County board on Sept. 3 that Summit Farms LLC’s proposed site in Alden Township scored 485 points on the state’s 44‑question master matrix, above the 440 points required to recommend a permit. Krause described site features including separation distances from public uses and water sources, covered manure storage with pits under slatted floors, a wet/dry feeder system intended to reduce waste, a worker safety plan, an emergency action plan, and a closure/decommissioning plan that addresses pit emptying and equipment removal. "The site scores 485 of the required 440," Krause said, summarizing the matrix result.

During a question-and-answer period, Krause said the site would use a deep well, that barns would include timed misting lines for temperature control, and that mortalities could be handled either by rendering or composting depending on the integrator's choice. He said that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) focuses regulatory oversight on manure pits and storage, while removal of the building shell after decommissioning may involve local authorities.

Several public commenters urged additional safeguards. One commenter noted the applicant raised its matrix score from 455 to 485 but flagged missing measures including an emergency containment area for potential manure spills, air‑quality filters or fan screening, and landscaping to reduce flies. That commenter recommended secure containers for mortalities and weekly rendering pickup. Another public commenter objected strongly on environmental and public‑health grounds, saying the operation would harm local water, air and soil and describing long‑term odor impacts: "welcome to Hardin County, Summit's vibe of eternal stench," the speaker said.

After hearing the presentation and public comment, the board voted to approve submitting a recommendation to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on the construction permit application for Section 30 in Alden Township. The motion to recommend the permit was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. The board also recorded that the applicant submitted a State of Iowa 509A certificate of compliance and acknowledged that relevant sections of the Iowa Code apply to the operation.

Next steps: the Hardin County board’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Iowa DNR, which has statutory authority over animal feeding operation permitting and will make the state-level determination. The county’s action was a local advisory recommendation; the DNR review and final permit decision were not recorded in the meeting minutes.