ESTHERVILLE, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) – The Emmet County Board of Supervisors delayed the approval of a settlement agreement with Red Rock Wind Project, LLC.
During their first meeting of 2026 on Friday, January 2nd, the board discovered the notice on their agenda did not meet the timeline required by the agreement. The settlement called for the agenda to be published at least four days and no more than twenty days before the meeting — a requirement that was not met.
The board ultimately decided to postpone the vote.
Vice Chairman Tim Schumacher says the delay was done to avoid future legal challenges.
Schumacher also added that supervisors are working to provide clarity to the public, including input from a second attorney.

The board now plans to hold a standalone meeting on Tuesday, January 13 at 8:00 a.m. to consider the settlement, which would resolve litigation over the Board of Adjustment’s denial of Red Rock’s conditional use permit in 2024.

If approved, the settlement would allow Red Rock to proceed with its long-planned wind energy project — a large-scale commercial wind farm in Emmet County. The project includes wind turbines, underground power lines, substations, access roads, and an Aircraft Detection Lighting System.

Updates can be found at emmetcountyia.gov, where the latest version of the agreement is posted.