Mills County board to hear Tallgrass pipeline inspection presentation as residents voice local-control concerns

MILLS COUNTY — The Mills County Board of Supervisors agreed to host a presentation next week from Snyder & Associates about inspection services tied to the Tallgrass CO2 pipeline project, while residents at the meeting raised concerns about local oversight.

Unidentified Speaker 3, who described Snyder & Associates’ role, said the firm would provide inspections for landowners to document pre- and post-construction conditions and would bring a presentation and price quote to the board. "They said presentation could be up to 30 minutes," the speaker said. The speaker added the inspector arrangement is intended to reimburse landowners for oversight rather than inspect pipeline construction itself.

At a separate district meeting recounted to the board, Tom Shipley, identified as a representative at that meeting, criticized the pipeline and warned against losing local control: "No one likes the CO2," he said, and he argued that if local control is reduced the state could begin writing requirements that local officials would then have to follow. No county action or vote occurred during the discussion; supervisors said the item would return as a formal agenda matter with a presentation and any price proposal from Snyder & Associates.

Board members also noted outreach from Tallgrass: Unidentified Speaker 5 reported a call with Tallgrass and said company representatives expected permitting to be completed in the spring and that public meetings had drawn sizeable attendance. Supervisors did not approve any pipeline authority or contracts at the session.

The board did not set policy at the meeting. Snyder & Associates’ presentation is scheduled for a future meeting where supervisors expect to weigh whether to recommend reimbursement-based inspection services for affected landowners.

The board is expected to consider the Snyder & Associates presentation and any proposed contract terms at its next meeting.