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Des Moines County supervisors to review wind‑energy ordinance after reported turbine damage in Cedar County
Summary
Supervisors discussed a video showing wind turbine damage in Cedar County and agreed to have county staff and counsel review the county's wind ordinance; the county's insurer (ICAP) can provide 300 minutes of legal consultation under the policy.
A supervisor brought forward a short video and reports of wind‑turbine damage in Mechanicsville (Cedar County), including incidents of fires and debris spread onto neighboring farmland, and asked the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors to revisit the county's wind‑energy ordinance.
The chair said he would contact the county's insurer, ICAP, and the attorney ICAP recommends; ICAP policy includes 300 minutes of legal consultation, the chair said, and he recommended staff provide the attorney a copy of the county ordinance and the video for review. "I would like to open our ordinance again, check that," the chair said during discussion.
Board members raised liability questions, noting potential cleanup costs and decommissioning responsibilities; the chair said he did not believe a formal resolution was needed and that he would speak on behalf of the county in contacting ICAP and the law firm. Staff indicated the county's land‑use ordinance text is available on the Des Moines County land‑use website and offered to include the link when sharing the video with colleagues.
No formal motion or vote to amend the ordinance was made at the meeting; supervisors agreed to have staff and counsel review the ordinance and report back. The chair said he would follow up and share any guidance or recommended ordinance language.
