Iowa Select goes to court to try and lower land costs

A large-scale pork producer is suing four Iowa counties seeking to cut the cost of land the company wants to buy. Iowa Select Farms has filed suits against Union, Clarke, Ringgold and Taylor County. Union County Assessor Gene Haner says the lawsuit affects three pieces of property in his county. Haner says each piece of property is assessed at a little over one million dollars.Iowa Select says land values have declined and they want the assessments lowered to just over 236-thousand dollars for each property. Haner says all four counties are sharing legal representation from a Council Bluffs firm. Haner says the lawyers told the counties they’re reasonably confident the outcome of the suit will favor the counties. Haner says it could take up to a year before the suit ever hits the courtroom.