LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Posted October 28, 2020
Dear Editor:
The DeWitt County Board incumbents up for election have a few questions that need to be answered. These types of questions would be considerations a sound business would address, that experienced representatives would consider, and that sound legal advice would ensure are answered prior to proceeding with regular business.
In 2018 and 2019, the wind company for Alta Farms Wind Project II submitted two special use permits. Each permit filed required a very sizable fee to be paid by the wind company. In each case, it was reported that the monies (much more than $250,000) were added to the General Fund. These monies could have instead been earmarked to pay for independent engineering and/or legal costs, etc. What was this money used for and why was it not placed in a special fund?
In years leading up to the filing of these permits, several amendments to wind ordinances were recommended to the Board that would have prevented legal and engineering costs, among others, from being incurred by the County (residents). I believe the term “indemnification” (compensation for harm or loss; security against legal liability for one's action) was part of the recommended amendment wording. And as I remember, this was part of an address made to the Board during this process by one of the new candidates. Why did all the incumbents vote against this recommendation?
These are just a few of the questions incumbents need to answer in order to inform us constituents. Why were these questions not part of the radio forum, or part of the latest pro-incumbent letters to the editor, or part of all the postings, mailing, and newspaper articles?
ALL the letters, mailings and articles suggest these apparent shortcomings in the experienced incumbents’ operation of this County Board are the fault of those affected by this project, and now, bearing liability falls on the County’s residents. Where is the incumbents’ share of responsibility?
Pamela D. Elliott
Wapella IL
