Macoupin County Board Economic Development Committee met May 3.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
I. CALL TO ORDER
PRESENT: Armour, Starr, Blank, Kilduff, Klausing, Rosentreter, Duncan, Garrison
ABSENT: Payne
II. AGENDA ITEMS
1. Discussion of Wind Permit Application Public Hearing with Attorney
Garrison said that the contracted attorney to handle the public hearing was on vacation and was not able to present tonight. In terms of procedure, the public hearing would be on May 23rd. A quorum of the full Board needed to be present as it is a full Board meeting. Anyone from the public who wished speak at the hearing would need to sign up before the meeting began on May 23rd. Anyone who signed up would be able to address the Board. If, due to time constraints, not everyone could be heard on May 23rd, the hearing would continue on May 24th. Only those who had signed up on May 23rd, would be able to address the Board. If everyone is able to be heard on the 23rd, there would not be an additional night on May 24th. The committee felt that wasn't clear enough to the public so it was agreed to further clarify that for the public.
2. Wind Permit Application Costs and Potential Fees from Bank
Duncan said McGartland had found out that since the wind permit fee went in a money market account, there was a $15 fee for any transaction that clears the bank over 6 checks in a month. Duncan wanted to confirm how the Board was planning on handling this. After some discussion, APEX said they would be
willing to reimburse the county for that service charge if necessary.
3. State Required Changes to Wind Permit Ordinance
Garrison said there had been no legislative changes made to the recently enacted wind ordinance statute by the state. As such, the county would need to adopt amendments to their ordinance in order to become compliant before the May 27th deadline. He would have those changes ready for Tuesday night's meeting.
4. Solar Panel Ordinance
There was a question about what qualified as needing a permit through the ordinance or not. Was it only for unincorporated areas or did it also include incorporated portions? The ordinance mentioned it was for solar energy facilities and substations that generate electricity to be sold wholesale or retail markets, does that include those who have solar on their personal property that produce enough energy to sell back to Ameren. There was a discussion about if there should be an acreage requirement or perhaps an megawatt limit. Garrison said he would review and have changes ready for Tuesday night's board meeting.
http://macoupincountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=3830&Inline=True
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