March 18, 2024

County residents rally in support of bill against pipeline

Holdefer, Gannon among group supporting eminent domain reform

When the proposed Bakken oil pipeline project began to enter Iowa conversations a few years ago, many farmers voiced their opposition.

Recently proposed legislation, along with shipping of pipe material to Jasper County for a project that isn’t even approved, has brought out more opponents from the county — two of whom spoke at a rally Wednesday in the state capitol rotunda.

Kathy Holdefer and Dan Gannon, both of whom live in the Mingo area, were among the six speakers at a short news conference conducted by the Bakken Pipeline Resistance Coalition —one of at least four organizations whose main focus include stopping the pipeline.

The specific message given by the speakers was to encourage passage of SF 506. That’s an Iowa legislative bill that would create eminent domain reforms farmers believe would give them more control over their land — making the SF 506 critical as the state’s largest, highest profile pipeline project is apparently already under way.

The type of 30-inch pipe needed for the project has already been shipped to Jasper County and is being stored locally, even as the project has not been approved by Iowa utilities authorities.

The group urged State Sen. Michael Gronstal (D- Council Bluffs), the majority leader of the Iowa Senate, to bring SF 506 to the Senate floor and call for a vote. The legislative session is winding down, and the bill has cleared committee, but has not been voted upon by the full Senate.

“This is not an anti-eminent domain statement,” said Holdefer. “I have exercised eminent domain over my own body, by donating a kidney, and the hospital I went to was very concerned about the welfare of the entire body. When I first heard about the pipeline, I asked myself if it was good for Iowa, and it seems like it’s only good for the oil industry.”

Holdefer said Iowans can make healthy decisions, based on good information. Gannon said his Cornlan Farm would have a 50-foot-wide pipeline easement running across a part of his 220,000 acres, running about three-quarters of a mile across the property. He said that affects the usability of the land — not only by splitting it up, but also by affecting the entire farmability — surface and otherwise.

“The bigger damage is to the ecosystem below the surface, which takes years to recoup,” Gannon said. “This was demonstrated by farm terraces that were put in throughout Iowa farmland land 40-plus years ago, and have never regained their productive status that was there prior to the placement of the terraces.”

Gannon said his four-generation farm is designated as a “Century Farm” by the Iowa Department of Agriculture, as it has been farmed by one family for more than 100 years.

The only Jasper County legislator who made an appearance at the event was Dan Kelley (D-Newton), who arrived shortly after the news conference was completed due to a previous engagement.

“I support SF 506, and will vote for it if it comes before the House,” Kelley said. “This bill would help landowners hang on to their rights, and protect their land.”

Rep. Greg Heartsill (R-Columbia) was on the House subcommittee that approved HSB 249, the House version of SF 506.

“I voted in favor of it in subcommittee,” Heartsill said in an email. “As a staunch supporter of private property rights, and someone who has advocated strict boundaries around government’s use of eminent domain ever since I was first elected, I would support the passage of SF 506.”

Gronstal and senators Amy Sinclair (R-Allerton) and Chaz Allen (D-Newton) could not be reached for comment by press time.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com