A Grinnell family has filed a lawsuit to try and stop plans to build an ethanol plant near their home on the south side of the city. The lawsuit was filed by Van Wyk Farms and Vernon and Loretta Van Wyk, saying a zoning vote by the Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors was illegal.
The supervisors overturned a planning and zoning recommendation that the land for the plant not be rezoned from agricultural to industrial by a 2-1 vote. Supervisor Doug Shutts says he can’t say much about the suit at this time. Shutts says he doesn’t know much about the suit and will have to take a look at the suit to see what’s going on.
The suit names Poweshiek County, the plant’s developer Big River Resources, as well as Shutts and supervisor Sandy Moffett. Moffett voted with Shutts to on the zoning issue.
The supervisors today talked about the concessions the county might offer to the company. Shutts says they got some public input on the next negotiating session and have an idea on the final offer they’ll make. The supervisors learned of the lawsuit following their meeting today.