BOARD MEETING MINUTES

September 13, 2023

 

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chairman Dean Liddicoat.

Present:  Dean Liddicoat, Mark Sieling, Jeff Lindner, Michelle Wendhausen,  Sam Palzkill, Josh Husom

 Others Present:  List attached

Confirmed compliance with open meeting law.  Posted September 9, 2023 at the Town Hall and on the Township website.

Minutes from the August 9, 2023 Board  meeting  were approved  on a motion by Mark and second  by Jeff.  Carried.

Public Comments:

Cole Faull:  PSC will trump any Township rules.  The attorney fee is a waste of money.  The PSC has not turned down the project.

Brandon Davis:  talked about the benefits of the Badger Hollow project to the area.  There will be less than 20 turbines only 100 mega watts.  Asking for more time to answer questions.  Separate meeting is needed.  The project will help  support farmers.  The ordinance stops landowners from doing what they want.

Travis Mueller:  There are two projects; Badger Hollow and Pattern.  Badger Hollow is comparable to Montfort.  He supports the project. Additional source of income for the Township and farmers.

William Neal:  function of the ordinance is to delegate health and safety issue responsibility to the Township.  Create boundaries for health and safety for neighbors.  It is not a ban on wind turbines, just to set boundaries. Ordinance is the logical next step.

Chris Ladd:  agrees with William.  Questions why the company reps show up now.  PSC wind siting council is not doing their job. US Dept of Energy study shows new turbines vs old setbacks has not kept up

Kathy Ladd:  Agrees with William and Chris.  Licensing ordinance is for health and safety.  Wind siting council is broken.  Turbines have increased in size.  Badger Hollow rep is here for the first time.  They have been in the area since 2016.  They waited until the Board is looking at the ordinance and now want to be a partner.  How much of an active partner?  

Pam Johnson Loy:  need respect for adjoining property owners.  If you build a shed, you need neighbors approval but don’t need neighbor approval to put up a wind turbine.  Adjoining property owner has no say.  She has felt the effect of he turbines in her travels.  Who will pay for first responder equipment to handle an issue.

Troy Russell:  propellors are being buried.  Will the Township have to pay to bury them?  Who pays for animals killed? And damage if towers catch fire or fall on adjoining  property?

Liz Humphrey?:  Damage to migratory birds

Stosh Potocki:  Need to limit distance from non participating residences

Jane Potocki:  Need to do something now not wait 3-4 years for the PSC

Alan Jewell:  Told how three guys convinced his 92 yo, legally blind mother to sign and gave her a ride to Notary. Lies and dis-honesty.  Health and safety is a big deal.  PSC is not protecting us.

Other Business:

Tucker Pittz – driveway and site with easement approved on a motion by Mark, second by Jeff.

William  Neal – motion to approve  building site on a motion by Jeff, second by Mark.

Jon Novak – Motion by Jeff, second by Mark to approve rezoning 4.87A from AG-1 to AR-1 and 38.4A from AR-1 to Conservancy

Motion by Mark, second by Jeff to sign and for the engagement letter from Jarchow Law Office for preparing the Wind Energy Facility Licensing Ordinance.

Discussion re:  Dump and recycling.   Josh had a survey indicating that 31 of 45 people surveyed would pay up to $3/pound to be able to take electronics to the dump, 32 of 45 wanted the Township to continue to take used motor oil and 31 of 46 would be in favor an and annual clean-up day. 

The Board decision was to have clean-up during the entire months of July and January,  take electronics during those months only at an item by item cost and to no longer accept used motor oil.  There would be 2 30 yard dumpsters available during July and one during the other ten months.

Josh was instructed to fix the fence between the dump property and the John Trace property.

Josh informed the Board that the company burying fiber optic cable and damaging the road.  He will talk to them about repair.

Bills approved on a motion by Jeff, second by Mark.

Next meeting set for October 11, 2023

Adjourned to closed session at 8:45

Discussed pay rates for part-time workers.

 Approved on a motion by Jeff, second by Mark at 9:10

Respectfully submitted,

Sam Palzkill, Clerk