DeWitt County Board Halts Further Building Permits On Alta Farms Wind Project Pending Appropriate Documentation of Curtailment | Posted Thursday Evening | DeWitt Daily News | dewittdailynews.com
The DeWitt County Board approved a controversial motion that is likely to receive pushback from Enel Green Power to cease issuing building permits until proof is shown the wind turbines can be curtailed during severe weather events.
Megan Myers offered the motion to the Board at the end of the regular monthly meeting Thursday night. Concerned Enel has not shown they can meet the standards of the special use permit, Myers offered a resolution to stop any further issuances of building permits until the company provides more proof of curtailment of the wind turbines during severe weather events.
Board Chair Terry Ferguson referenced during his Land Use Committee report a meeting he and acting Zoning Administrator DeeDee Rentmeister had with Brayten McGee with Enel. Ferguson offered McGee a 2-week window for a better solution to the problem.
That response from Ferguson did not sit well with other board members who pushed back. Buck Carter and Aaron Kammeyer believe this is the County holding the company accountable for its agreement.
But Dave Newberg and Jay Wickenhauser pushed back on the motion contending a vote on a motion not on the agenda could not happen and they did not receive council from the State’s Attorney, who was not present Thursday.
The motion passed 6-4 Thursday night with Myers, Kammeyer, Carter, Nate Ennis, Melonie Tilley, and Jamie Prestegaard voting for the motion while Newberg, Wickenhauser, Ferguson, and Dan Matthews voted ‘no’.
Regional Radio News has sought comment from Enel Green Power regarding the Thursday decision.