A proposal to amend Storm Lake’s city code to allow water service for a hog holding facility outside city limits failed to move forward Monday night, as council members declined to make a motion following a public hearing.
The request came from former Tyson imprint Heinold Hog Markets, LLC—a livestock auction facility based in Sheldon—which is constructing a hog holding site approximately half a mile north of Storm Lake at the intersection of 600th Street and 120th Avenue, right across the street from the city’s water main.
Current city code prohibits providing municipal water to livestock or agricultural operations, and a change to that ordinance would have been required for the facility to connect to the city’s water main.
City of Storm Lake Building Official Scott Olesen says that the proposed facility is not a traditional livestock operation but a temporary holding site for hogs en route to processing.
Steve Pederson, President and General Manager of Heinold Hog Markets, said the water usage would be minimal—comparable to that of a residential property.
Pederson explained that rural water access had initially been the company’s plan, but proximity to the city’s water infrastructure complicated that option without formal city approval.
Despite the facility’s low projected water demand, councilperson Kevin McKinney expressed concern about adding any new users to the municipal system, especially during a period of voluntary water conservation.
Councilperson Meg McKeon added that expanding water service to agricultural operations outside city limits could set a precedent that future councils may struggle to regulate.
Ultimately, with no proposal made to approve the ordinance change, the proposal died on the floor.
The facility is expected to proceed with rural water service, pending a formal letter from the city. Council members emphasized the importance of protecting city resources and maintaining transparency in future infrastructure decisions.
