May 9, 2019
Kansas

Refusal to sign resolution won’t stop wind farm application

By Phyllis Zorn, Staff writer | Marion County Record | May 5, 2019 | marionrecord.com

Although county commissioner Dianne Novak has refused to sign a resolution after she voted against it last week, her refusal to sign will make no difference in its validity.

The resolution gave wind farm developer National Renewable Solutions consent to include proposed road and right-of-way crossings in their revised conditional use permit application, which was presented to the planning and zoning office Friday.

A public hearing on the CUP will be 7 p.m. June 3.

Novak said at Monday’s county commission meeting that she’d gotten an e-mail from county counsel Bran Jantz about her missing signature.

“Last week I refused to sign the resolution,” Novak said.

“This morning I got an e-mail from Brad, who said it’s part of an administrative function. That goes against my core beliefs and I cannot in good faith sign this.”

The wind farm proposal has been hotly contested by a group of opponents who have repeatedly called for a moratorium on wind farm development in the county.

Novak said she felt obligated to stand by her opposition to the wind farm. She asked if a disclaimer can be added to future resolutions showing who voted against it.

Commissioners generally agreed such a disclaimer can be added. They agreed it would be good to note who did not vote in favor.

County clerk Tina Spencer later said that Novak still did not sign the resolution before leaving the courthouse Monday, but said that it will go into effect without Novak’s signature.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/05/09/refusal-to-sign-resolution-wont-stop-wind-farm-application/