Wind and solar development have been a contentious topic in DeWitt County over the last few years. 

At Monday night's DeWitt County Land Use Committee meeting, members reviewed changes to wind and solar ordinances made by Zoning Administrator Elizabeth Weikle, that bring the County into compliance with State statutes. The only change proposed came from Committee Chair Buck Carter, on removing two areas from the ordinance, known as RD1 and RD2. 

Committee member and Board Chair Joe Witte quickly pointed out that the proposed motion is not what the Committee was approved to do by the full board. He was also concerned that without new evidence, it would be redundant and a waste of taxpayer dollars to repeat the zoning process. 

Carter expressed his feelings on the current State wind and solar statutes, noting that they are too liberal. Removing RD1 and RD2 from the ordinances would prevent developers from building in those two locations. 

While Witte reiterated concerns over spending on these wind and solar hearings, Carter refuted them saying that those meetings happen and are spent on anyway. He added that strengthening the ordinances not only gives the County ground for action should a developer misstep, but it also can deter developers in the first place. 

Witte once again noted the incorrect process that would not allow them to directly recommend these changes. Committee members discussed how they could, through the proper channels, revisit the removal of RD1 and RD2 with the full board. 

Pat Ryan proposed making a case with the full board to allow the RPC to add the removal of RD1 and RD2 from these ordinances in a related text amendment that is already in the works. Carter withdrew his motion, and stated that he would make his case with these entities. 

When it comes to the changes that the Committee had discussed previously and were authorized to make, they decided to recommend those to the full bard for this month's meeting.