today's Fairfield Ledger:
By: Lacey Jacobs, Ledger staff writer06/25/2007
MAHARISHI VEDIC CITY - The fate of the Palm farm remains
undetermined following a public hearing Sunday afternoon. The
Maharishi Vedic City City Council voted to table any action on the
matter until further notice is given.
Acting on the recommendation of Jefferson County Supervisor
Dick Reed, councilman Chris Johnson moved to table the issue while
encouraging the city, the Palms and the county supervisors to work
together toward a satisfactory outcome for all involved parties.
"It's our intention in one way or another to come to a positive
agreement," Johnson said.
Roughly 300 people attended the public hearing and council
meeting on the proposed public improvement, which would require the
acquisition of approximately 149 acres of the Palms' neighboring
land, possibly through condemnation, for use as a park.
Mayor Bob Wynne said all of the land currently in the city is
scheduled for development, and in discussing options for a park, it
came to the city's attention that the Palms were interested in
selling.
"It was our understanding from the beginning that they had an
interest in selling. When Chris Johnson and Kent Boyum met with them
it was just that the difference between the appraised value, which
was $2,675, and what the Palms were wanting, which was six times that
much, was too big a difference," city attorney Maureen Wynne said.
However, Ron Palm, who owns the farm with his brothers Robert
and Lewis, said his family had a different perception of the meeting
with Johnson and Boyum, and they had not made an offer to sell.
"[The land] always has been in the plan for the city and prior
to the city for the Maharishi Center for Perfect Health and World
Peace development. And going back to 1991 when we were doing the land
assembly, we did negotiate with the owners of the property and had
come to an agreement," Johnson said. "The original land assembler,
which we represented, decided not to go forward at that time with
this particular property and a number of others because they were for
park area, for development of utilities, which wasn't the main thrust
of the city at that particular time. So it's not a new concept to
move forward with this, it's just an issue of timing."
According to Bob Wynne, the possible establishment of a hog
confinement on the Palms' property was a stimulus for the city's
actions.
"What precipitated this in a way was the comment that you were
going to do a 4,800 hog confinement next to the city," he said.
Several people in the city were concerned about the proximity,
triggering the city to begin looking at its options, he explained.
"I think that if the Palms had either continued their family
farm the way that they've been operating it ... continued to operate
it as corn and beans and stuff like that, it wouldn't have come up
maybe for generations," Maureen Wynne said.
"The reality of the situation is we also have some concerns,"
councilman David Lonsdorf said after listening to the outcry from the
public. Millions of dollars have been spent to develop the community,
and the problems associated with a hog confinement, such as smell,
pose a threat to the community and businesses, he said.
"We're concerned that the quality of our health will be
impinged upon, the quality of our life will be impinged upon and
really I don't want to wake up and go to sleep at night with a
powerful hog smell coming into my room," Lonsdorf said.
More than 25 people spoke during the hearing, almost all of
whom opposed the possible use of eminent domain.
Several of the speakers, including Ron Palm, implored the city
to pursue land within its boundaries for use as a park.
"Often if public parks are something you really believe in, you
donate the land," said Jill Watson of Fairfield.
Speaking on behalf of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Jeremy
Atwood said, "We do thank the city council for allowing us to provide
public comment on this important issue, but urge you to stop pursuing
the acquisition of farm land where there isn't a willing seller.
"Iowa law determines how and when a government can take private
property. We understand that a government taking a private property
by eminent domain is sometimes justified and necessary for a public
purpose; however, taking agriculture land outside of your city limits
for a park in this instance is not justified, legal or necessary," he
continued. "The Palms have a right to continue to farm their land,
and those who farm around Vedic City should not have to look over
their shoulder and wonder if they are next."
For the complete article, see the Monday, June 25, 2007, Fairfield
Ledger.
