Meetings held to discuss several ordinances concerning windfarms

Over fifty people crowded the board meeting room in the Bureau County Court House last night to hear discussions on several ordinances concerning wind farms. A joint meeting between the Zoning Committee and the Transportation Committee met first to discuss road agreements, transportation issues, and decommissioning plans for wind farms. County engineer John Gross expressed his concerns over the three year conditional use permits being too long. Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Sondergroth suggested a one-year road agreement, which will have to be discussed at the next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. The cost to dismantle wind turbines after they become obsolete or are no longer useful was next up for discussion. Bill Welty, Ogle County Board member, shared the wealth of research their board has done and some of the new ordinances they will propose after the Ogle County moratorium is over. The two committees then split to conduct their own meetings.