By HOLLY GASKILL
Plans for a Paddlefish Solar are making headway, representatives said Monday.
Trena Roudebush, community and government relations from Geenex Solar, told the commissioners the group is currently completing details on a decommissioning agreement and will soon submit permit applications. According to Roudebush, the site design will be available to the public with the permit application.
While specific locations and scope of the project have not been public knowledge, Senior Project Manager Jesse Laniak has stated 12 landowners in Liberty and Chester townships have signed lease agreements with the group, totaling 3,000 acres. Paddlefish Solar LLC is owned in partnership between Geenex Solar and EDF Renewables.
When Paddlefish Solar received a 10-year tax abatement in December, the group pledged to invest a minimum of $250 million in the project.
During the current development phase, Laniak stated the group has prioritized community engagement, hosting events like Solar 101 workshops and a golf outing. Looking forward, Paddlefish Solar will award a $5,000 Energy Advocate Scholarship to a Southern Wells Senior and a $5,000 grant for a Southern Wells teacher. Additionally, Laniak said the group would hold an open house before going through development approval with the Area Plan Commission.
Other updates included:
• Highway Supervisor Shawn Bonar requested direction regarding a property owner who wanted to cover the difference in cost for 700 feet of his road to be paved rather than chip sealed. Commissioner Blake Gerber mentioned there was a similar agreement with a property owner many years ago, but County Attorney Ted Storer said he worried about the implications. Storer said he would further look into it, but the commissioners would likely need to publish notice and extend the agreement to all properties in the conversion area.
• Construction on Bridge 19, located on 800E, is on track to finish within its allotted 30 to 60 days. County Engineer Nate Rumschlag said the excavation has finished, and footer work will start this week.
• During the Drainage Board meeting, Surveyor Jarrod Hahn confirmed that a previously-discussed structure is located on top of a tile. The property owners had not received a permit for the project and had appealed for a permit after-the-fact. The board decided the structure had to be moved or torn down but agreed it was the APC’s jurisdiction to settle a timeline for action.
• Jason Meyer asked to build a barn on his property, which is located on the Newton Chalafant drain. Meyer had previously received approval for a pole barn, but the property zoning prohibits building a pole barn by itself. The drainage board deferred the issue to the APC because of the implications of the project.
• Commissioners approved Ordinance 2023-04, which outlines a service fee for online historical records searches. Access will cost $5 for one-day access, $20 for one week, $35 for 30 days, and $400 for one year.
• Project bids for bridges 170 and 85 will be due June 8.
• The commissioners approved Bluffton NOW’s use of the plaza on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. as needed for the Parlor City Market. The market will begin June 3.
• Sheriff Scott Holliday was not present for the meeting but sent information regarding the inmate population. As of Monday, the jail was housing 61 inmates total, 22 of which were pre-trial holds for the Wells County Circuit Court, 22 were pre-trial for the Superior Court, 10 Level 6 felons, and three from the Department of Correction.
holly@news-banner.com
