June 6, 2019
Nebraska

Commissioners hear updates on wind farm project at May meeting

By Hope Moural | Seward Independent | June 5, 2019 | www.sewardindependent.com

Logan Winston, project developer for EDF Renewables, updated the Saline County commissioners on the Milligan 1 wind farm project at their May 28 meeting.

Winston said the company is currently completing land agreements and wetland environmental studies within Saline County. Turbines are to be installed just outside of Milligan. Up to 99 wind turbines will be erected over the course of the next year. According to Winston, conditional use permits are being obtained for possible construction in Fillmore County.

“We are here to follow through and build (the project),” Winston said.

In another matter, Pam Wakeman of Crete presented concerns on Lincoln Premium Poultry’s use of West Wittstruck Road for chicken barns being built in Lancaster County. West Wittstruck Road is less than a mile outside of Saline County.

In attendance with her was civil engineer Bruce Barrett, who showed research on what the gravel road would look like with an increase in traffic. Semis will be traveling each day to and from the Costco plant in Fremont.

“Currently the road does not have (heavy) truck or trailer traffic,” Barrett said. “We’re looking at what we need to support trucks out there.”

Barrett and Wakeman asked the board for maintenance input on the road although no action was taken.

Also during the meeting, commissioners approved a conditional use permit for Tom Koch of DeWitt to be able to sell firearms to a select few at a property across from his residence.

“Maybe 10-15 guns a year to sell to local family and friends,” Koch said.

County permits are now needed for those who wish to hold a federal firearms license, which allows firearms to be bought and sold.

Those who wish to purchase a used firearm can only do so by buying from a seller with an FFL, which Koch was hoping to obtain through the conditional use permit, so that guns can be shipped to him for customers to pick up.

“This is basically for people to buy from another location,” Koch said, although he doesn’t plan to open it up to the public.

The Saline County Commissioners will next meet June 11 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The meetings are open to the public and take place on the third floor of the courthouse.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/06/06/commissioners-hear-updates-on-wind-farm-project-at-may-meeting/