A solar development proposal within one and a half miles of the City limits in Farmer City was rejected earlier this year by the city council, and its leadership is imploring the DeWitt County Board to follow suit. 

The Santa Anna Solar Project is looking to develop land within 1.5 miles of the Farmer City city limits. At Thursday night's DeWitt County Board meeting, Farmer City resident Moe Winstead addressed the Board with concerns about how the solar project will affect his property.

Winstead also brought up concerns of property damage and property value. He asked if the County would be liable should the project cause damage to his property during a storm. 

Farmer City Mayor Scott Testory emphasized Winstead's point that the City has already opposed the Santa Anna Solar Project multiple times and feels they have clearly taken their stance, yet the County has not supported them. 

Mayor Testory is concerned about the possibility of stunting a community's growth by land-locking it with solar projects - a concern shared by many local officials throughout central Illinois.

The County has been in the process of reviewing a large number of solar applications that they have received in recent months.