In a step that its sponsor says involves political pay-back, Republicans in the Iowa state House added language to a budget bill that would dramatically re-organize the board of the Des Moines Water Works, which is suing rural agricultural counties over water pollution.
State Rep. Jarad Klein told reporters the utility “is somewhat responsible for this” because of its lawsuit, said Radio Iowa. The re-organization would limit Des Moines to two of the five seats on the board. The other three board members would be appointed by officials from the counties and suburbs served by the utility. At present, the mayor of Des Moines appoints all of the board members.
The bill passed the Iowa House on Tuesday, the Des Moines Register reported. The newspaper said the bill now goes to a joint conference committee comprised of members of both the House and Senate, for reconciliation, and then to Gov. Terry Branstad for final approval.
If it succeeds, the Des Moines lawsuit would be precedent-setting because it says rural drainage districts must follow federal clean-water laws. Agricultural runoff generally is exempt from those laws. Klein said “regardless of what they’re doing on the lawsuit, this (reorganization) is good policy” because the Water Works has become a regional utility.
Des Moines Water Works CEO Bill Stowe called the House bill “retaliatory gutter politics that is uncharacteristic of Iowa.”
A three-week trial in federal court was to begin on Aug. 8, but the judge handling the case says there are scheduling conflicts, said Associated Press. Judge Leonard Strand will meet attorneys on May 11 to select a new date.