Hydroelectric dam sees setback, longer wait in store for test dam

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

While it may be a rather hot topic for the Henry County Conservation Department, the ongoing discussions regarding a hydroelectric dam project in Henry County seemed to be stuck on repeat.

Since the board?s last talk on the project back in December of 2014, AMJet Turbine Systems, the company producing a hydroelectric turbine and generator, has received funding for a project that would allow them to build a full-scale test dam similar to one that could be used in Henry County. However, after several mechanical set backs, AMJet had to move their start-up day for the test project to spring of 2016.

?I just wanted to update the board and let you know that we are still where we were the last time we spoke (on the hydroelectric dam project),? said Henry County Conservation Director, John Pullis. ?At this point, we are still going to ride these next months out and just see what happens.?

According to earlier board reports in December, AMJet was shooting for June 2015 to have a full-scale model to move to Brainerd, Minn., for project testing.

Also during earlier discussions regarding the project, it was the consensus of the conservation board that more information about the dam project needed to be obtained before the board would entertain the idea of spending taxpayer money on such an expensive item. As it stands currently, the board would still like to observe a hydroelectric dam in action similar to the one that could be installed in Henry County to see if such a dam works properly in other places.

?We are still probably three to four years out on the project now with this set back,? Pullis estimated. ?Now, it might be quicker than that, but right now, it looks like we are still a ways off.?

The conservation board also discussed a possible purchase of a new skid loader for the department. The department?s current loader has, according to Pullis, been experiencing obvious signs of overuse and wear. It was Pullis? recommendation that the department starts looking for a new machine before continuing to pour money into an older machine that needs intensive mechanical work.

?I have budgeted $27,000 to replace our skid loader, and I was looking at something that is fairly equivalent to what we have now,? said Pullis. ?After talking with some dealers, they have recommended going to a track unit. Ours now is a wheel unit. However, I do have some concerns about a track unit standing up to the areas that we operate them in.?

Pullis also reported that the available budget for a new loader would have to be split over two fiscal year budgets in order to accommodate such a large purchase.

?The other concern that we are running into with track units is that these machines are running about double the cost that I had budgeted. A track machine is just so much more expensive than a wheel unit,? he said.

While it was the overall opinion of the board to continue researching different loaders and Pullis was encouraged to speak to the county supervisors about a possible purchase, there were some varying opinions regarding the type of machine to look for.

Board member John Klopfenstein in particular said he wasn?t totally sold on looking exclusively at track unit machines.

?In my experience, track loaders take more work because the tracks have to be kept clean or else they won?t operate. I have a wheel loader and I am very happy with mine...but I didn?t want tracks because they are more maintenance and generally come with more problems,? said Klopfenstein.

Rounding out the meeting was a brief discussion and subsequent approval granting Grandinetti?s Metal Recycling, of Mt. Pleasant, permission to demolish two abandoned buildings at WaterWorks and salvage them for scrap metal to the tune of $1,000.

Currently, the two small buildings are standing in a flood plain and need to be removed for safety reasons. After demolition is complete, the conservation department will clear any leftover debris and plant grass in the area.

Before moving into closed session to discuss a land acquisition item on the agenda, the board also signed a resolution stating their support of the Iowa Water and Land Legacy - a permanent and constitutionally protected funding source that ensures Iowa?s natural spaces are preserved.

The next Henry County Conservation Board meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m., at the Henry County Conservation office.