Van Buren County adopts construction-evaluation resolution to participate in DNR review of confinement feeding permits

The Van Buren County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 12 adopted a construction evaluation resolution enabling the county to evaluate and submit recommendations on Iowa Department of Natural Resources construction permit applications for confinement feeding operation structures between Feb. 1, 2026 and Jan. 31, 2027.

Chairman Waugh read the resolution aloud, including the clause that "the Board of Supervisors hereby adopts this construction evaluation resolution pursuant to Iowa Code section 459.304(3)." On motion by Supervisor House, seconded by Supervisor Meek, the Board approved Resolution #01-12-2026A. A roll call vote was recorded as Waugh - Aye, House - Aye, Meek - Aye.

The resolution cites Iowa Code section 459.304(3) and directs the Board to evaluate every construction permit application using the master matrix outlined in Iowa Code §459.305; the Board’s recommendation to the DNR may be based on the matrix score or on other reasons the board chooses to record. The action establishes that only counties adopting such a resolution may submit adopted recommendations or later contest DNR permit decisions for applications received in the specified one-year window.

Next steps: the county will receive and evaluate relevant DNR permit applications during the Feb. 1, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027 period. The transcript records the formal adoption of Resolution #01-12-2026A but does not record any separate findings or scores for specific proposed facilities at this meeting.