The two sites proposed by Ryan Reed for two 4,800-head facilities in Competine and Highland Townships have been approved and are ready for construction.

Iowa DNR Environmental Engineer Sara Smith approved Reed’s permit for Competine Township. She said from here Reed is able to start construction at his own will.

“They met all the needed requirements and it is up to them when they want to start building,” she said.

Reed did not want to comment on a construction timeline, but said he is still willing to work with neighbors on these sites.

“We’re working through quite a few steps right at the moment,” he said. “But, yes, we still plan on building them.”

Cyrus Rustin, another DNR environmental engineer, said he was in charge of Reed’s Highland Township permit and said there were no technical problems.

From their prospective, only technical concerns are valid.

Although a public hearing was held on each of these sites, Rustin said the comments are not taken into consideration unless they are on technical grounds.

Source: Ottumwa Courier