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LISBON -- The deadline for anyone wanting to submit written comments regarding the proposed ban of large solar facilities and large wind farms in Elkrun, Hanover, Knox and Madison townships is 4 p.m. Aug. 11.
Comments should be sent to the Columbiana County Commissioners, 105 S. Market St., Lisbon, Ohio 44432.
Commissioners hosted a public hearing regarding the proposed ban earlier this week, hearing from a Madison Township resident who's against the ban and questioned the legality of a resolution passed by his township trustees.
The resolution approved on March 22 by Madison Township trustees showed yes votes for Bruce Barrett and Wayne Chamberlin and a no vote by Roger Walker, whose previous yes vote was crossed out. The resolution passed 2-1. Even without Walker's vote, the issue would have passed.
Madison Township resident Dan Lyon said he opposed the ban and questioned how the township passed the resolution, citing the vote change by one trustee.
"Our elected officials can do practically anything they want and we the voters have no recourse," he said.
Regarding the proposed ban, Lyon said "that takes away my right to do what I want with my land."
He questioned why it couldn't be up for a vote by the residents.
Commissioner Mike Halleck said "we have a representative form of government."
"Keep in mind, up to 50 megawatt solar farms we can't stop. Some solar farms can still be put in," Commissioner Tim Weigle said.
When Lyon kept talking about the trustees and claiming he would have to pay for an attorney if he wanted to challenge their action, Halleck said the commissioners weren't there. They have a signed resolution requesting the township be included in the ban. He also pointed out that 15 out of 18 townships submitted resolutions for the ban.
"That's what their people want," Halleck said.
"People have no say in it," Lyon replied.
Knox Township Trustee Greg Carver spoke out in favor of the ban and talked about agriculture being a high livelihood in the township. He said it's an agricultural community. He said he's open to ideas for power, but said this kind of development would destroy the township.
A Franklin Township resident in favor of the ban, Diane Brown of Franklin Against Kensington Solar, who farms 500 acres, said what a neighboring property owner does can affect her property. She said the "impact is important to the rest of us."
She also commented that townships need to prepare their zoning for the smaller solar farms.
Commissioner Roy Paparodis said they would take the comments under advisement and make a decision sometime after the deadline for written comments.
Bans have already been approved for the unincorporated areas of Butler, Center, Middleton, Salem, Unity, Wayne, Washington, Fairfield, Franklin, Perry and West townships.
If the four latest petitions get approved, that will mean 15 out of the county's 18 townships have bans to prevent the construction of large wind and solar operations. Yellow Creek, Liverpool, and St. Clair townships are the only townships in the county that have not sought bans.
The Kensington Solar project, located in Franklin Township, won't be affected by the ban in Franklin Township because the vote came after the project plans were already submitted. The project remains pending before the Ohio Power Siting Board.
When contacted about the claims regarding the resolution approved by Madison Township trustees, county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said his office was contacted by phone by a man who was told to put his complaint in writing. He said he wasn't describing anything illegal and that most of these types of claims would be civil.
In other business, commissioners approved the following expenses from the American Rescue Plan Act funds: $2,500 for United Way Southern Columbiana County to assist non-profit, food pantries; $6,000 for the Community Resource Center of East Liverpool to assist non-profit, food pantries; $2,500 for JP Plumbing for touchless flush toilet replacements at the sheriff's office at the jail; $15,581 for Johnson Controls Fire Protection to replace 3-inch main piping and line piping in the evidence cage area at the jail; and $84,739 for Johnson Controls Fire Protection to upgrade the fire alarm panel/system at the jail.
Commissioners approved a new contract for the Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services with the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County Community Action Rural Transit System for transportation for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program employment and training program with a $5,000 ceiling for the contract from July 1 this year to June 30, 2024. An amendment was approved to the contract with Catholic Charities Regional Agency for the domestic violence shelter to increase the ceiling to $75,000 from $50,000.
The next commissioners' meeting will be 9 a.m. Aug. 9.