Commissioners plan moratorium

A wind farm moratorium is on the horizon.

Jay County Commissioners plan to take formal action on a proposed three-year ban on new wind farm project developments at 9:15 a.m. July 9.

“I’d like to pass this thing today and get it over with,” commissioner Barry Hudson said Monday morning.

Because a moratorium involves passing an amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance, public notice is required by law.

Jay County Plan Commission on Thursday recommended a three-year moratorium by a 5-4 margin last week, with commissioner Mike Leonhard casting the deciding vote for a temporary halt to new developments.

The plan commission’s recommendation and any moratorium that could be approved by the county commissioners will have no effect on Scout Clean Energy’s Bitter Ridge Wind Farm, which received approval for its permit last week after meeting the requirements of the current ordinance.

That ordinance was targeted Monday by vocal wind farm opponent Mike Garringer.

“The only thing our ordinance does is attract windmills,” said Garringer. “It says, ‘Here’s the keys to the county, do what you want with us.’”

Garringer also took aim at the commissioners themselves, charging, “You’re in it for the money.”

“We’re in it for the county,” commissioners president Chuck Huffman countered later. “The purpose of a moratorium is to put a halt to things while the rules are reviewed. … I think we’re very favorable for a moratorium.”

“The sooner the better,” said Hudson. “It’s obvious the (zoning) ordinance needs to be looked at.”

Commissioners also discussed whether the time has come for a similar review of the zoning ordinance regulations on confined animal feeding operations.

“Is there any way (the plan commission) would be open to hearing (CAFO opponents)?” asked Hudson. “I would like to see people come forward … like the wind turbine people did. … We’re getting a lot of concern. We’re getting a lot of letters.”

Huffman said that in two our of three conversations he’d had with the public about Bitter Ridge Wind Farm, the growing number of CAFOs was also mentioned.

“It’s something the plan commission can look at,” said Leonhard, who chairs that body.

But building inspector John Hemmelgarn was less than enthusiastic.

“I’m not afraid to look at it again,” said Hemmelgarn. “We’re working on the (revised regulations) for just two years.” He said he’d prefer to wait until the rules have been in place five years before another revision. “You can’t make everybody happy,” he added, noting that local control is limited to setbacks and fees.

“It’s still a hot issue,” said Huffman.

Commissioners met Monday with the leadership of Jay Emergency Medical Service and set in motion the acquisition of a new ambulance to replace an aging and outdated unit. The ambulance slated for replacement uses a “box” dating from 1988 that has been remounted six times on different chassis. A replacement is likely to carry a price tag in six figures.

“We knew it was coming,” said Huffman. Commissioners have talked about the purchase being made with money from the cumulative capital improvement fund. “It could be do-able this year,” he added.

Barnett also asked commissioners to consider moving an unstaffed ambulance — Medic 4 — from Dunkirk Fire Station to Portland Fire Station. Most JEMS employees live in Portland or the surrounding area in the center of the county. When Medic 4 is pressed into service, JEMS employees must first drive to Dunkirk to get the ambulance before they can begin to respond. That can add dramatically to response times, he said.

“We’re not asking you to do anything now,” said John McFarland of JEMS.

McFarland told commissioners that two sets of EMT classes will begin in August. A group limited to 12 students will start classes Aug. 9 at John Jay Center for Learning, and a group of seven students will start classes Aug. 10 at Jay County High School.

In other business, commissioners:

•Decided to hold a public hearing Aug. 27 as the county drainage board to consider incorporating the Lupton Watershed, near Pennville, into the much larger Salamonie Watershed.

•Noted the resignation of John Young from an ad hoc committee working with the City of Portland and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Salamonie River flooding issues.

•Declined a request by Hemmelgarn for additional compensation for work related to Bluff Point Wind Energy Center.

•Agreed to release state grant funds to Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition, noting that county council approval is also needed.

•Approved purchase of a desktop computer, printer and copier from Allen Business Machines at a cost of $4,739 for Jay County Retirement Center.

•Balked at making the final payment of $1,920 to engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Seufert for a flood-related study of the Miller Branch.

“If they haven’t done what I feel we asked them to do, do we have to pay them the money?” asked Hudson.

Both Hudson and Huffman had conversations with BF&S representatives involving property north of county road 100 North, but the engineer’s final report was limited to one specific property south of road 100 North.

“We left the meeting thinking they were going to provide more information,” said Huffman.

County attorney Bill Hinkle with review the contract with BF&S.