After two years of almost continuous debate at the quorum court, justices of the peace unanimously passed a moratorium on commercial wind and solar projects. The ordinance passed at the March 18 quorum court meeting will require two more readings before taking effect.
A late amendment to the ordinance provided an exemption for the 30 wind turbines planned for installation south of Green Forest. Several JPs had expressed concern about creating an ordinance which might threaten signed contracts, and the language in this ordinance removed that conflict.
JP Jack Deaton cited state law which guided his concerns about legislating against Scout Clean Energy, the contractor for the Green Forest project. “Everyone thinks we can just wave a wand and stop this, but we can’t,” he said. “We cannot interfere with a contract.” JP Jerry King agreed with Deaton’s concerns, saying, “I don’t want to get the county into a lawsuit.”
The ordinance includes language restricting solar projects. Of the 11 JPs, only JP Hunter Rivett asked why the ordinance would restrict solar installations. During the two years of complaints about the dangers of wind turbines, not a single word had been offered against solar energy projects. JP Harrie Farrow said the solar provision could be removed without affecting the wind turbine moratorium. King reminded everyone that the ordinance will have two more readings, and JPs will have an opportunity to amend it.
The public comments period preceded the discussion on this ordinance, with some of the same objections aired during the past two years. Some of those comments were directed at the Scout project, and County Judge David Writer stepped in to clarify the ordinance on the table. He said the moratorium was aimed at future projects, not the project already under way.
Scout representative Jack Barker invited visitors to the construction sites south of Green Forest. He asked people to judge “with your own two eyes” how the company is handling the project and the reclamation at the end of the project.
Arturo Calvillo has leased property for the project, and he reminded everyone of a recent report about shortfalls in the budget of the Road Dept. He said some poultry houses have been closed, affecting the county’s tax revenues. “In 10 years, we’re going to wonder why we have no industry, and why our tax base is so small,” he said.
In other business:
- After 14 years on the quorum court, Deaton resigned at the end of the meeting. He has moved out of his district, and the quorum court declared a vacancy for the governor to fill in District 1. JP Craig Hicks presented Deaton with a commemorative plaque and listed the other areas of service which have made Deaton “a true public servant.” Deaton said he has enjoyed his time on the quorum court and singled out the other members of the budget committee and the department heads for their assistance in preparing the budget. Deaton also paid tribute to former JPs Lamont Richie and John Howerton.
- Berryville Library Director Julie Hall said groundbreaking for a new library is scheduled for 11 a.m. on April 1. She gave a brief history of the efforts of the Friends of the Library to raise the $3.5 million necessary for the project, calling it “a true testament to community support.”
- A resolution confirmed the appointment of John Olsen as a commissioner to the board of the Lake Forest Subordinate Service District. His five-year term began on March 1.
- Funds received through a grant from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program were appropriated for repairs to the historic courthouse on the Public Square in Berryville. The grant total was $184,000.
- The JPs acknowledged and appropriated a $500 donation received for juvenile probation from the Holiday Island Rotary Club and the Carroll County Youth Literacy Rotary Foundation.
- A fund was established to track revenues and expenditures of funds made available through the Byrne JAG Grant.
- Lisa Price-Backs spoke during public comments about an upcoming meeting of watershed protection groups. “We all have to be stewards,” she said.