April 11, 2014
Illinois

County board opposes wind farm legislation

Mike Billy | The Times | April 10, 2014 | www.mywebtimes.com

The La Salle County Board sees winds of change blowing in the General Assembly – and they aren’t very happy about it.

A bill in the State Senate would give the Illinois Department of Agriculture the ability to regulate the location of wind farms and any other electric-generating wind device. 

County Board Chairman Jerry Hicks would rather see that power stay with the county. 

“Zoning is meant to be in a local fashion and not in a state fashion,” Hicks said. “So we should keep it localized.”

And the board agrees. 

With a voice vote at the county board meeting on Thursday, board members approved sending a resolution to various state politicians to voice their opposition to the bill. 

The bill would allow the Agriculture Department to regulate the setback on wind farms, but Hicks is worried that the legislation will be ammended before it’s passed to give the department even more power.

“We’re going to have (wind farms) in La Salle County based on our comprehensive plan and our zoning and then they are going to tell us how to do it,” Hicks said. “It should be a hands off thing.” 

The board also approved raises for the county sheriff, treasurer and clerk. 

Sheriff Templeton will receive a 1.5-percent raise each year through 2018. He earns $72,000 and will receive $76,418 in 2018. He also receives a yearly stipend of $1,500 for his position as supervisor of safety. 

The treasurer and clerk both have a salary of $63,000. They will receive $64,500 in 2015 and $66,000 in 2016 followed by two 1.5-percent raises, reaching $67,995 in 2018. 

The County Clerk JoAnn Carretto also receives a $1,500 yearly stipend for her position as supervisor of elections. 

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/04/11/county-board-opposes-wind-farm-legislation/