By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Some see them as a financial windfall, some who live near them consider them a nuisance.

The McLean County Board on Tuesday approved new guidelines for wind farms.

County Board member Catherine Metsker, R-Carlock, said she never envisioned living near industrial wind turbines when she moved to White Oak Township three decades ago. She said the new policy should put in more financial safeguards when these turbines go offline.

“The townships in our county will require significant financial resources to decommission these structures,” Metsker said.

County Board member Jim Soeldner, R-Ellsworth, said his township got a big financial boost from wind energy.

“The assessed valuation in Dawson Township went from $13 million to $24 million because of the wind farm, so that’s help the taxpayers in our township and overall in the county,” Soeldner said.

The new guidelines require wind turbines be at least 1,500 feet from a home and be no taller than 550 feet and wildlife study must show minimal impact.

The county held two public hearings on the regulations which the McLean County Farm Bureau had requested. The county held the hearings after Metsker said that little notice was given to residents.

Two wind energy companies are looking to apply for a permit for a new wind farm in northeastern McLean County.

Budget

The County Board has approved a $95 million budget for 2017. It allows for non-union workers to get salary increases of 1.75 percent, up from 1.5 percent this year.

County officials are keeping the tax rate essentially the same as last year, but expect to bring in more revenue due to a two-percent increase in property values.

The spending plan is a five-percent increase over this year, but that’s due largely to the planned Law and Justice Center expansion.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].