A large crowd filled the courtroom at the Eastern District courthouse for last week’s quorum court meeting. Some 60 people filled the seats and spilled into the cramped hallway, in response to an item on the agenda about planned wind turbines in the southeast part of the county.
To make room for the crowd, elected officials moved into the jury box along with representatives of the media, including KOLR television from Springfield, Mo.
The wind turbine topic was listed as a Miscellaneous item on the agenda and did not call for any action from the quorum court. Miscellaneous items have a 10-minute time limit. In addition, County Judge David Writer set some limits on public comments. Each speaker would still have the usual three-minute limit, but Writer asked to limit the number of speakers to five in favor and five opposed. Justices of the Peace agreed, except JP Harrie Farrow.
Later in the meeting, Farrow explained that she did not want to limit the number of speakers. Writer said public meetings are scheduled on April 11 and 25 at the Berryville Community Center. The sessions are scheduled from 6-8 p.m., presented by representatives of Scout Clean Energy. Writer said he plans to attend the meetings.
Scout Clean Energy has acquired leases to install wind turbines with an estimated height of 500 feet or more. The company will also add a new transmission line four miles long to deliver power generated by the turbines.
Carolyn Rogers began the discussion and said wind turbines cause “significant harm to wildlife” while providing limited benefits. She said they are only economically viable because of tax credits, and those tax credits will expire. She mentioned the danger to groundwater and said conservation efforts could replace the amount of energy this project would generate.
Rogers asked to split her 10 minutes with former County Judge Richard Williams. He said tax credits will expire in 10 years, and asked who could guarantee that property taxes would be paid thereafter. Scout Clean Energy has raised the possibility of paying to improve some county roads to handle construction traffic, and Williams claimed that would amount to leasing a county road to a private interest. He said Carroll County has lower wind velocity than surrounding counties, making it less suitable for turbines.
Loud applause followed Williams’ speech. Those opposed to wind turbines applauded to endorse each subsequent speaker during public comments, and Writer had to gavel the crowd into order after people began freely offering opinions from the gallery.
Steph Gordon-Glassford described environmental threats and said property values within sight of the turbines or transmission lines will suffer. She called the project “an environmental disaster and class-action lawsuit waiting to happen.”
Mary West came from Lampe to deliver an impassioned speech. “This is a fight not just for this county,” she said. “They’re looking to do more across the country.” She said Green Forest would no longer be a quiet, peaceful town, and she warned of increased crime. “What about the golden rule and the golden eagles?” she asked.
JP Hunter Rivett expressed his reservations about government telling property owners how to use their property. “What do you want us to do?” he asked. West said, “Just say no to wind farms,” and Writer had to gavel the audience back into order.
Arturo Calvillo plans to lease his property on Carroll Road 905. “I hope they fill that mountain with wind turbines,” he said. He responded to allegations that Scout Clean Energy has tried to operate secretly. “Don’t let them try to tell y’all that somebody snuck something in,” he said. “It’s been going on for years, and everyone knew about it.”
Carol Ann Russell said the size of the project sets it in a different category. “It’s so big, they can’t say it’s their business. It’s all our business,” she said.
Rivett reiterated his stance against county zoning regulations. He said those same arguments go back to the time of the first telegraph lines. “It’s my job to protect the rights of the people,” he said.
In other business
- JP John Howerton reported that the committee studying the possibility of a new courthouse for the Eastern District has met with three architectural firms. The committee will soon meet to consider those presentations. The committee will also begin looking into financing options. The final decision on the project would rest with the county judge.
- Rivett introduced Berryville Student Council President Jack Dignan, who plans to attend the University of Central Arkansas to pursue a teaching career. He described some of the challenges facing teachers, especially issues surrounding student behavior. After his presentation, JP Roger Hall observed, “Teachers are the most under-prepared of any occupation coming out of college.”
- JPs confirmed the appointment of Robert McKenzie to a three-year term on the board of the Inspiration Point Rural Fire Protection District.
- A new water heater for the Eastern District courthouse will cost $988.
- A new air-handler for the Carroll County Health Unit will cost $9,000.
- JP Jack Deaton said the budget committee has been looking at graders.