By HOLLY GASKILL
On Dec. 6, the Wells County Council will hold a public hearing regarding a tax abatement for Paddlefish Solar.
The solar company hopes to develop agricultural land in Chester and Liberty Townships, both of which fall in the Southern Wells Community Schools district. The total development of the project could be up to $350 million.
Southern Wells Interim Superintendant Steve Darnell encouraged community members to attend the public hearing to learn more about the development and share their opinions.
Darnell said this abatement should not affect the school’s funding with the properties’ current zoning. However, it will not allow the district to benefit from the development.
If the resolution for the abatement is approved, Paddlefish Solar will be 100 percent tax-exempt for 10 years but will compensate the county at least $8.5 million in multiple payments beginning as soon as 2025. The amount could exceed $11 million depending on the scope of development.
Council member Seth Whicker, who serves the county at large, stated there is no decision regarding how this money will be used to benefit the different county regions but that Southern Wells could expect to receive its fair share. Whicker welcomed everyone to attend the hearing.
“This is something we’ve not done before, so I really want to encourage anyone who is available to show up — if nothing else, to listen and learn what’s going on,” Whicker said.
“There is potential for (these) additional funds from Paddlefish to benefit us,” Darnell said. “That would be a perfect way for County Council to supplement the income for Southern Wells, as it does for other school districts.”
The public hearing will be at 7 p.m. in the Wells County Carnegie Government Annex. The council has not yet approved the resolution for the abatement but will have the opportunity to vote on it following the public hearing.
To close the meeting, Darnell was recognized for his service and leadership as interim superintendent, having come out of retirement to reprise his role this summer and fall. Trent Lehman will begin as the district’s new superintendent on Nov. 21.
“It’s been a pleasure,” Darnell said. “Southern Wells is very special to me — the staff is wonderful … Southern Wells is quite the gem.”
The board has scheduled a Dec. 15 public work session for orientation with Lehman, current and newly-elected board members. Their next regular meeting will be on Dec. 20.
In other news:
• The board recognized the elementary school walking club, which has had an average attendance of 120 students. Top walkers for the club had completed over 14 miles thus far. The club is run by Mike Carter, physical education teacher, who was also named the Bette A. Erxleben Volunteer of the Year for 2022 by the Wells County Foundation.
• Additional appropriations of $232,000 were approved for the school’s operating budget.
• Four donations were accepted by the board — $1,000 for continued work on the softball field from Ryan Beavans, as well as $400 for athletic transportation, $500 for the high school boys’ basketball team and a new track protector, all from anonymous donors.
Additionally, the board accepted $3,000 for curricular materials from the Monique Burr Foundation. The materials will be used for prevention education training on child abuse, exploitation and trafficking.
• The board approved the employment recommendation for Jordan Bieber from Taylor University to teach alongside Vonda Bradt from January to March. They also approved the employment recommendations for Aleigha Zoda as an elementary instructional assistant, Mallory Nussbaum as the cheerleading coach and Mark Gates as the Academic Bowl coach. Also, the board was notified of the resignation of Karie Lavanchy from her teaching and extra-curricular positions effective Dec. 20.
• The board approved a recommendation from Darnell to raise the salaries for Title I assistants to make them comparable with instruction assistants at a $14.56 hourly rate. Additionally, they approved the recommendation to raise the advertised technology support assistant role to an hourly rate of $19.23 to maintain a competitive salary in light of the previous resignation of the technology director.
holly@news-banner.com
