Kokomo Tribune: letters to the editor 

Political machine is broken in Tipton Co.

In November of 2012, I became involved in the local issue of wind farms in Tipton County. As a new retiree, I now have the time necessary to look at issues and study what they mean to me as an individual, and how they will affect my neighbors, friends and family of Tipton County.

As I attended meetings and heard people speak on the issue of wind farms, I decided to try to educate myself as best I could and have a good understanding of the whole concept, and just what I felt it meant to the people of Tipton County. With all the time spent talking to experts on issues with wind energy and the research I have done, I now feel I have at least a reasonable knowledge of this subject and can now intelligently talk about wind energy here in Tipton County and some of the problems that will arise if continued.

But the deeper we dig into the debate on wind energy, I find my elected officials continue to be a road block. Their actions, such as the continued appointment of individuals to render decisions without any bias, have conflict of interest! This fuels the fires with Tipton County citizens, as they feel their elected officials are not listening. In fact, they have a preconceived agenda and will stop at nothing to achieve their wanted outcome.

The constant, negative media attention is taking its toll and has the general public hanging their heads in dismay. To date, there has not been one appointment made by our commissioners on the wind issue that doesn’t have a direct conflict of interest. Either they or their family members are standing to make personal gains from the implementation of a wind farm.

Some of their family members are even on record standing before the last BZA meeting in favor of the wind project.

Continued allegations of wrong doing and mishandling of county properties. The continued standoffish attitude. When citizens ask questions for information, they receive attitude. Citizens have even been called names, such as “low class” at our public meetings. Just because they are asking for public information. No citizen should have to fear this type of treatment.

Some of our elected officials need to take a breath and remember they are there to do the bidding of the people that live here in Tipton County. They do not need to agree. That is what makes America great. A government of the people and for the people! This has truly been eye opening, and I am not sure I was ready to see this.

It has made me understand why so many of our people feel the whole political machine is broken and they cannot challenge the system. But we must keep up the fight and prove to the people we can and will make a difference.

Mike Baden

Sharpsville

Turbine opponents offer hope of change

The public meeting May 21 on the Wildcat Wind Farm will be a night to be remembered! It was arranged by the Tipton County Citizens for Responsible Development (CRD), and the attendance was about 100 people. The testimonies of people in the Wildcat Wind Farm’s first phase were shocking.

Their TV reception is terrible. Cellphones will not work properly. Internet reliability is an ongoing problem. People report nausea while working in their yards. Ringing in the ears is a problem.

The roads remain unrepaired, and the chipped rock with slurry has damaged cars and driveways. The slurry becomes caked under vehicles and, when the slurry dries, the fine dust particles make it difficult to breathe and drifts everywhere into vehicles and homes. One person tried to remove this slurry from his driveway, but it only stuck to his shovel like glue.

It has been more than a year and not one road has been fixed. If you had a paved road, it will be replaced eventually with a chip-and-seal surface. It will never be paved again since it is in a wind farm.

Flooding has become more of a problem since the roads have been raised at least 3 inches and field tiles have been broken by the heavy E.ON equipment.

One couple has lost $65,000 in a recent home appraisal, which is $25,000 under their property tax assessment. This couple has a turbine in front of their house and one on the backside of their home. Another person, Mr. McCorkle, has invited the public to come to his house. He hears sounds of a jet, a train, thumping or grinding every day.

These people have lost their quality of life, and the goal of the Tipton CRD is to help these people. Their complaints are now being documented because they are real issues, which until now, have been largely ignored by E.ON and county officials.

Believe me, people of Windfall, the battle is not over. You may be living in a wind farm with hellish conditions, but there is hope in numbers. Please come to the next meeting in Windfall, or any of the meetings, to voice and document your complaints.

The setback distance from the property line of non-participating landowners must be increased to protect the people, and there must be a bonded property-value guarantee.

Vickie Starbuck

Kokomo