Supervisors hear shrimp farm proposal

VINTON — A Benton County resident who wants to start a shrimp farm talked with county supervisors May 6 about the enterprise and about the county’s land use ordinance.

Eric Franzenburg said he has a diversified farm operation, growing fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs and cut flowers. For the past five years he’s had an agri-tourism project called the Sunflower Experience.

Franzenburg has been interested in starting a shrimp farm for a long time, he said. The shrimp would be raised indoors in tanks and would be mature in three months. He hopes to produce 1,200 pounds a year.

Franzenburg would like to sell the shrimp off the farm and as a wholesaler. The farm is located at V-40 and Highway 30 on land owned by his family.

Franzenburg said there are concerns that shrimp are not considered an animal of agricultural activity, but he said it’s a viable operation being developed in the state. Shrimp from a farm is safer and raising it is more efficient, he said.

And people are not harvesting shrimp in the wild, said Franzenburg. “People can just eat shrimp that’s being produced, and it’s being produced locally instead of coming from another state or from China or Southeast Asia.”

Franzenburg said shrimp falls into the definition of farm products according to the land use ordinance. There is little or no smell in the operation.

Franzenburg plans to give tours of the facility show people why they should buy shrimp from a farm. “We’ve realized once we’ve got people on the farm for the Sunflower Experience that, you know, once they’re here in Benton County, it’s good to keep them here in Benton County.”

Franzenburg also talked about providing shrimp to area restaurants.

Barb Fetzer, of the land use office, said her office sees this as ag use, but it does not meet the definition of a farm, which must have 21 or more acres that are used in commercial production of a farm product.

“That’s what a farm is in Benton County,” Fetzer said.

Franzenburg wants to split off less than one acre for this project, said Fetzer. If the project isn’t split and is under the umbrella of Franzenburg Farms, Franzenburg’s operation will be fine, Fetzer said.

An acre will be needed for a septic system.

Steven Beck, Belle Plaine city manager, said Franzenburg is an asset to the community. Beck asked about getting a new 911 address for the shrimp operation.

Supervisors took no action.

In other business, supervisors set a land use hearing for Tuesday, June 3 at 9:15 a.m. for Kevin and Susan Hagen for land in Parcel A, section 9, in Fremont Township.

Supervisors appointed Roni Frye Monroe Township Clerk and approved a final plat for Carver Road Addition Subdivision to Benton County.

The board approved replacing the water line at the service center. Work is expected next fiscal year.

he board approved replacing the air conditioner in the recorder’s office. The low bid for the project was $7,681.

The board approved use of the courthouse grounds for Chalk the Walk Night in May for Mental Health Month.

Judy Hamaker, of Heartland, gave an insurance presentation.

The board approved modification to the Iowa Department of Transportation five-year construction program for fiscal years 26-30, and approved a utility permit for USA Communications in Union Township.

Supervisors approved providing bank cards with a credit limit of $1,000 from opioid funds for transportation needs for people getting out of jail.

The board approved hiring Aaron Cronk as a full-time correction officer, Terry Ehlinger as a part-time cook/custodian and Johnie Blanchett as a reserve (part-time utility deputy) for the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Dave Upah said his father will be a chaplain for the jail. The position is unpaid.