Residents urge Benton County to press Linn County, regulators over Morgan Valley project, cite air-quality and setback concerns

John Lee, a resident who addressed the board during public comment, thanked the supervisors for a letter to the Iowa Utilities Commission and urged Benton County to press Linn County officials about the Morgan Valley project’s proximity to Atkins and other nearby communities.

"I read the letter you guys submitted to the IU utilities commission regarding the Morgan Valley project. I truly appreciate that position," John Lee said, and asked supervisors to consider attending Linn County meetings or making direct comments so Linn officials hear Benton County residents’ concerns.

Why it matters: Residents said the project could affect air quality and public health in Benton County and neighboring towns. Jay Hopkins, another resident, said the project application had been filed and urged supervisors to read it and consider both public-relations and legal strategies.

"The application from Alliance was filed. If you haven't read it, you probably should," Jay Hopkins said, noting what he described as pieces of "misinformation" in the filing and urging sustained pressure on Linn County and state regulators.

Speakers at the meeting asked for more transparency about environmental reviews. John Lee and others said they were concerned that the DNR and the utilities commission may rely on surrogate or regional measurements rather than site-specific baseline weather and air-quality monitoring for the Morgan Valley site in the valley. They pressed for a public-health briefing and for joint meetings with Linn County supervisors so Benton County residents can raise questions directly.

Board response and next steps: The chair said the board had already sent the letter to the Linn County supervisor and acknowledged the concern. Supervisors discussed legal and regulatory options in principle — including ordinances on setback distances and the possibility of legal action — while noting limits to a county’s authority over utilities regulated by the state. Board members said they will research options and consider next steps, including coordinating with neighboring counties and monitoring the state-level review process.

What remains unresolved: Speakers asked for baseline air-quality monitoring and clearer, plain-English explanations of modeling and permitting; the board did not adopt a new ordinance or a binding direction during the meeting. Residents said they will continue to press Linn County, state agencies and the utilities commission and requested that Benton County pursue joint meetings and public-health briefings.

The board’s formal business that day included several routine votes and scheduling land-use hearings; no formal board action on Morgan Valley was taken during public comment.