March 28, 2024

CCRC letter to governor

This is a letter from Clarke County Reservoir Commission to Gov. Terry Branstad. It was also requested to run as a letter to the editor.

“Dear Gov. Branstad:

The Clarke County Reservoir Commission is united in requesting that you use your line item veto authority to remove the eminent domain language contained in Divisions XXIV, XXV, and XXVI of Senate File 510, commonly known as the standings bill. This legislation is unnecessary, discriminatory, and probably unconstitutional. It is terrible public policy.

Osceola and Clarke County have been working on expanding public water supply since 1991 when the Osceola Water Board started discussions and preliminary planning for a new source of water.

The reservoir commission was organized in 2003 to facilitate a cooperative effort in this critical work of planning for the economic future for our communities throughout Southern Iowa.

While we have studied a multitude of alternatives, and explored multiple benefits a new water reservoir would provide, our project has always been about increasing our public water supply. Adequate water supply is essential for a growing population and economic expansion.

We know there is a lot of misinformation about the project that has been spread among the members of the general assembly for many years. The persons involved in the misinformation campaign refuse to recognize many changes have occurred in the project over the years to meet changing technical and policy standards.

The facts are that the reservoir is sized for water supply only, meeting the current state law and administrative code. Many alternatives have been studied and considered. The project is well planned, meets the future needs of Clarke County and southern Iowa as allowed by current Iowa law, and the community overwhelmingly supports the Commission and the project.

Three families are most of the local opposition to the project. They have been successful in attracting the legislative support of radical politicians who continue to over react to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Kelo decision.

Iowa’s existing eminent domain law adequately protects property rights of our citizens. No change is needed. Please do what is right for the majority of Clarke County and southern Iowa citizens; use your line item veto on Divisions XXIV, XXV, and XXVI of Senate File 510.

Thank you for your time and attention to this critical issue.”