The Carroll County Board of Supervisors changed course and officially rescinded a resolution that had removed them from the North Raccoon River Watershed. The May 11, 2020 resolution was approved because a management plan would allow Polk and Dallas Counties, who are not part of the actual watershed, to reflect the thoughts and wishes of 56 percent of the population rather than an actual representation of the ag land, which is the majority of what comprises the region. This resolution also stated they would not support any plan for the watershed. By rescinding it, the supervisors will be able to have their voice heard in a vote this Friday, July 24, on a plan that has an unrealistic goal for a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Prior to the unanimous rescission vote, Supervisor, Dean Schettler, noted there is a lot of emotion revolving around the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit and this plan and he hates to have people decide an issue based on that. On the other hand, if the county splits from the coalition, they will have to develop their own plan at their own cost. “If we aren’t part of the conversation, we will be the conversation,” Schettler says. There is one major reason the supervisors are not in favor of voting yes on the plan.
Gene Meiners says the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 48.1 percent mandate is setting them up for failure and questioned whether there was enough support from other coalition members to get it reduced to 41 percent. Schettler says he does not know if there are enough members considering a no vote on the plan, whether there will be enough participation to request a change of the number or if they will even be able to get a quorum for the next meeting. Chair, Rich Ruggles, agrees that Carroll County needs to be included in that vote.
He adds if they don’t like the outcome, they can still work to withdraw from the watershed. Schettler says he does have concerns about some of the watershed members and their hands-off approach working in opposition to the desired goal of a lower target load limit.
Schettler says he will be talking with a lot of individuals and monitoring any proposed changes to the plan this week and will advise the board of any movement prior to Friday’s vote.
