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Woodbury County supervisors direct county attorney to seek judicial review of Salix annexation after residentsurge scrutiny
Summary
After multiple Salix-area residents criticized a voluntary annexation tied to a proposed MidAmerican Energy data center, the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors said it will ask the county attorney to seek judicial review of the annexation process; the board said it believes the legislature's intent was not met.
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors said it has directed the county attorney's office to pursue judicial review in district court of the voluntary annexation process involving Salix, after a wave of public comment and a closed-session briefing by the county attorney.
The chair told the meeting the county's legal staff had briefed supervisors and that the board "directed the county attorney's office to ask for judicial review in district court," saying the board believes the intent of the Iowa annexation statute was not met. The chair added that a judge will decide whether Salix followed the law.
Residents from Salix and the surrounding area urged supervisors to intervene. Doyle Turner said the dispute goes beyond zoning and described it as "a territorial issue between MidAmerican and the Woodbury County REC," arguing that the REC's stance has cost the county economic opportunities and that the REC "should cease to exist" if it continues to block projects.
At the July meeting, several Salix residents described neighborhood impacts they fear from a hyperscale data center. Jennie Annick said a petition representing "40% of Salix residents" had been presented to the city council and urged the county board and county attorney to "continue to closely monitor the actions of the Salix City Council and their legal representatives" and "do everything in their power to protect Woodbury County, its citizens, and the environment." Ingrid Bridal said, "No one moves to Salix to live next to a data center," and other commenters described concerns about traffic, dust and the loss of quiet, agricultural land.
Supervisor Matthew (speaking from the dais) reviewed the legal framework and said the county will act as an ally to residents seeking review. He cited the voluntary annexation procedure in Iowa Code 368, which supervisors said is intended to give "due consideration to the wishes of the residents of territory to be annexed and to the interests of the residents of all territories affected by an annexation." The board said it does not believe that intent was met in this case.
Board leaders emphasized that asking for judicial review does not by itself halt the annexation or any related application, but said a court decision could require greater transparency or a renewed application. The chair said the county attorney's office would prepare filings and make arguments public once submitted.
Next steps: the county attorney will file for judicial review in district court; supervisors said they will provide updates as legal documents are filed and reviewed.
