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DeWitt County Board Members Dispute Legalities of Recent Action Regarding Solar Energy

In March, the DeWitt County Board approved a six-month moratorium on wind farm applications to allow the Regional Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals time to update the County's ordinances.

 

Last Thursday night, the Board approved a similar resolution and one Board member believes despite the wording, it is a moratorium. Former Board Chair David Newberg contends the resolution proposed by Buck Carter not only is a moratorium but lacks the legal authority to enforce.

 

 

Carter explains under his proposed ordinance, any application for a solar farm put out in the next six months would have to abide by any changes made to the County's solar code.

 

 

But Newberg questioned the legal authority of such a motion to be enforced, pressing Carter on who wrote his motion and the legal advice he received regarding it and the previous month's motion regarding the moratorium on wind applications.

 

 

During a separate discussion regarding solar ordinances, Newberg wondered if every time the County hears of possible development if ordinances will get reviewed. Aaron Kammeyer believes ordinances should be reviewed frequently.

 

 

The review time for the County's solar ordinances was capped at six months as the County anticipates a solar application coming later this year. Board Chair Terry Ferguson is confident the review should not take more than six months. 

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