September 7, 2011
Indiana

Fountain may see wind farms

BY DENNIS BARTLOW, Commercial-News, commercial-news.com 6 September 2011

COVINGTON, Ind. – Wind farms might start sprouting in eastern Fountain County.

The Fountain County Commissioners approved an ordinance Monday to regulate procedures for a wind farm following the recommendations of the planning commission.

“We took a look at the setbacks and the noise regulations,” said Amanda Smith, extension educator and member of the planning commission. “We have removed the sound ordinance.”

The setbacks are 1,200 feet for non-participating land and one-and-one-half the size of the tower for participants.

The initial application fee is $20,000 plus $2,000

per megawatt of power. There will be a $250 fee per year for tower for inspections.

“It sounds like a really good ordinance,” commissioner Janet Shoaf said.

The fees must be advertised before the ordinance goes into effect.

A company is looking at constructing a wind farm in Richland Township.

In other business, commissioners:

Revisited the animal control proposals, but tabled action until commissioner Terry Ellingwood could find out the status of the smaller towns with the proposals. Paw’s ‘N Claws asked for a $20,000 donation from the county, and the Fountain County Animal Welfare League lowered its proposal from $28,000 to $20,000. Paws ‘N Claws has secured donations from some of the large communities, while the welfare league operates only in the county, outside of the towns.

“I think we need to look at this as a countywide service – the broader the service the better,” Shoaf said. “One is limited to the county; the other is all the area.”

Walt Wilson, president of the commissioners, said there were several questions that need to be answered. “We need to be sure we get the answers.”

Will proceed with engineering work to have County Road 50 South widened from U.S. Route 41 at Veedersburg for a potential industry that might go in to the county-owned land at that site.

“Things are starting to move,” Wilson said. “We need to be ready.”

Will seek an additional $1,249.44 from the county council in the fuel fund of the sheriff’s budget and $27,000 in the Emergency Medical Services department for paramedic classes.
Tabled the hearing on reducing precincts in Logan, Troy and Van Buren townships until the Oct. 3 meeting.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/07/fountain-may-see-wind-farms/