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Dubuque County supervisors authorize support letter for Street Farms expansion over environmental objections
Summary
After a public hearing in which an environmental advocate urged the board to withhold endorsement, the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors voted 2–1 to authorize the chair to sign a letter of support to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the Street Farms non‑construction expansion permit.
Chair Harley convened a public hearing on the Street Farms non‑construction expansion permit and invited online testimony. Steve Vasey of Ames, representing Protecting Outstanding Iowa Waters, urged the board not to endorse the DNR application, saying the application contains multiple factual and methodologic problems and that county officials have a public‑trust duty to protect water quality.
"Dubuque County has 99,000 population of which farm family population is estimated to be about 4,600 or about 4.7%," Vasey said, using county demographics to argue the broader public interest in water quality. He told the board the application omitted soil‑loss compliance plans and relied on a 2025 Chapter 65 rewrite that removed prior guidance limiting manure application to fields with lower phosphorus levels. Vasey also raised concerns that water‑use and nutrient‑testing protocols in the plan were inconsistent and, in at least one case, cited swine test results for a dairy plan.
Supervisor Anne, who had earlier requested that Vasey’s emailed comments be added to the meeting packet, said Vasey’s points about water permits and the four alleged mistakes deserved particular attention. Treasurer/board staff and other supervisors discussed whether the DNR’s review meets the county’s standards and noted that the DNR has final permitting authority.
Supervisor Wayne moved and Chair Harley seconded a motion authorizing the chair to sign a letter of support to the DNR for the Street Farms application. Anne suggested amending the letter to note the vote was not unanimous; the board declined to alter the letter, saying the minutes would record the 2–1 vote. The motion carried, with two ayes and one nay recorded.
The board’s action is procedural: the DNR retains authority to approve, deny or condition any permit. Supervisors who voted in favor emphasized reliance on state technical review and the farm’s stated remediation steps; those opposed cited recurring errors in the application and past fines as reasons to withhold support. The minutes and the letter will be available for review in the county packet and public record.
The county did not adopt any new permit conditions at the meeting; the DNR remains the deciding authority on whether the Street Farms expansion proceeds.
