By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commission chairman Ron Hirst notes that there is an opportunity for public input on wind farm regulations again coming up next month before the county's planning commission.
"Basically, there needed to be some wording changes done with both the comprehensive plan and the planning and zoning regulations, so that we would comply with the potential of prohibiting wind conversion systems within the zoned areas," Hirst said. "That seemed to be the direction not only the people in the southeast district, but other folks within the zoned area wanted to have."
The zoning overlay for the rest of the county is another aspect that the public needs to understand.
"If people in the non-zoned areas do want wind energy conversion systems, they would have a say," Hirst said. "Not only they would have a say, the county would have an opportunity to have a say. If we do not have a zoned portion, and that is only for wind, it doesn't apply for anything else, any other zoning, housing or so forth, they would have a say. The county the only say they would have without zoning is a road and bridge contract. With zoning, the county would have some opportunity to have some negotiating strength, if there should be one come in."
The meeting is set for November 18.