By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – A McLean County board member wants more discussion about proposed new wind farm regulations in the county.
Catherine Metsker, R-Colfax, said the county’s building and zoning office made it difficult for her to see the proposed new regulations and the county did little to notify the public of a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing.
“It certainly appears the building and zoning office provided the McLean County Farm Bureau and wind developers more consideration than the taxpaying citizens of my district,” Metsker told the County Board.
Building and Zoning Director Phil Dick said the proposal from the Farm Bureau wasn’t made available to anyone until it was formally submitted.
“We did not share that with anybody including member Metsker until after that application was on file.
The County Board agreed to schedule a second ZBA hearing in September and will publish the notice in multiple newspapers and notify government officials throughout the county.
Metsker had called for more strict regulations for wind farm setback and decommissioning, but withdrew that request settling for a chance to provide more testimony. Dick said those rules world have make it difficult to put a new wind farm anywhere in the county.
“I don’t understand the reason for it unless it is to make it so that you can’t put any turbines out there,” Dick said. “That’s the problem we see. We want to put restrictions on turbines so that it doesn’t impact residences.”
Metsker said she had to file a Freedom of Information request with the county to obtain information about plans for a wind farm in her northeast McLean County district.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
