Alta, Iowa — There is an ongoing discussion in Buena Vista County surrounding a rezoning request for a proposed soybean crush plant near Alta.
The County Board of Supervisors had a standing room only crowd as they heard arguments for and against the current plans for the plant that could produce several dozen new jobs. Sioux Rapids resident Ben Hollesen spoke in favor of the proposal saying benefits would likely be seen by more than just area farmers.
Not everyone likes where the Platinum Crush plant would be placed, including Paul Havens who spoke on behalf of residents in the Lake Creek area. He says safety is a concern.
The Board tabled the decision last week and asked County Engineer Bret Wilkinson to look into a possible traffic study along Highway 7 in the area the plant could be located.
The board unanimously decided to table the decision for another week. That choice was met by some comments from the crowd afraid that waiting too long may ultimately lead to Buena Vista County losing the proposal to another location. A representative for Platinum Crush LLC, said last month, prior to the zoning discussions, the hope was to break ground on the new facility this Fall with the plant expected to be operational in 2024.
