Mar 29, 2023

County Commission will see solar moratorium next month

Posted Mar 29, 2023 1:49 PM

NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Administrator Randy Partington let the Board of County Commissioners know that a moratorium on solar farm development will be in their agenda packet next month.

"As a heads up, I know I've mentioned it to the commission in another report I've given them," Partington said. "On the agenda at your next meeting is a moratorium for consideration on solar farms, until the planning department gets regulations in place. That will be in front of you. I know you guys have all received emails. If you continue to receive them, April 11 is when you'll have a chance to make a decision on that."

Given the length of time that it took the County Commission with clarifying the wind regulations after they came up from planning, County Counselor Patrick Hoffman would like to see the board give some boundaries to planning along with their discussion of the moratorium.

"On the moratorium, you might be thinking about what kind of direction the Planning and Zoning, you might give to them on that as they explore rules," Hoffman said. "For example, would you want them to make regulations for the entire county or do you want to treat the unzoned western portion differently and those kinds of general things that you might give them, because planning and zoning will make regulations and ask you to approve them. If you can give them some general guidance as to what you would be willing to approve, that would be helpful."

The estimate is that it would take nine months to get those regulations written.

"I've been getting a lot of comments on solar," said Commissioner Don Bogner. "It's been real strong, especially in my area. I've been getting them for way before I was a commissioner. Once I got elected, I started getting questions and, you know, comments at that point. I will say and I think, the general public, for or against, most of it, people just want some information, solid information on where the county is on it. I've got to commend our voting public. They have been very cordial in their comments. It's just, they've been asking for information, so that they can make decisions."

The next Board of County Commissioners meeting is Tuesday, April 11 at 9 a.m. in the Veterans Room at the Reno County Courthouse.

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