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Resident urges action on CO2 pipeline oversight as Tall Grass awaits final permit
Summary
A Mills County resident criticized a seven-member local oversight group for inaction and pressed the board for updates on CO2 pipeline planning; county officials said Tall Grass awaits one remaining Des Moines office permit and has contracted engineering oversight, with construction expected to take months once permits are issued.
At a public comment period, Kent Ponwell told the Mills County Board of Supervisors he was disappointed a seven-member group formed in January to represent the county on a proposed CO2 pipeline "has had little to no forward motion" and that he had not received guidance about the group's objectives or meetings.
"It's been three and a half months and the people I know that I've asked about this really have not received any guidance or direction," Ponwell said, urging the board to be more proactive in organizing the group rather than waiting until a problem arises.
A county representative responded that Tall Grass is "waiting on one permit from the Des Moines office," that the company has permission to clear trees and prepare right-of-way, and that it had engaged an engineering firm (Ner and Associates) to oversee contract compliance. The official said Tall Grass estimated seven to eight months to bore and install the line, weather permitting.
Board members and the commenter also raised concerns about recruiting and convening a quorum for the seven-person advisory group; Ponwell said one member reportedly died and that only two or three members had been participating, limiting the group's ability to advance recommendations.
The exchange included broader community concerns discussed by Ponwell about landfill presentations and the need for legal representation in negotiating with outside waste operators, but the board did not take formal action on the oversight group during the meeting.
Next steps discussed informally included prompting the designated county contact to convene the group and clarifying its goals and meeting schedule; no staff direction or formal assignment was recorded on the public record during the session.
