Windfarm contract concerns board
By Julia Wolfe The Courier-Sentinel
The Curtiss Village Board members heard an update on communications concerning a potential wind farm, during their regular monthly board meeting on Feb. 1.
RWE Renewable Energy previously approached the village about leasing land on the west side for a transmission line. The underground collection cable would help connect turbines spaced out on private land throughout private land in Northeast Clark County. The company is not able to place a turbine on village property, because turbines must be placed at least 1,250 feet from any residences, by law.
As part of the potential agreement, RWE would pay the village an initial signing bonus, with compensation during the developmental term (up to the first seven years) and the increased compensation in the operational term (typically 30 years).
The village attorney highlighted some portions of the proposed contract, during the village’s January meeting.
Trustee Jon Unruh shared email ex- changes between him and John Barenz, RWE. Unruh questioned the termination procedures in the contract. In the emails, Barenz confirmed that RWE can terminate all, or a portion, of the land with a written notice during the developmental term.
“They could contract for all of our land during the development term, get up to a few months before the operational term, and then terminate all of our land except for where the line would go through, is how I read it,” said Unruh.
Unruh says things like that have raised a lot of concerns, for him.
Another cause for concern for Unruh, was the language under the easements section of the contract. He says he went through the first six pages of the 60 plus page contract and highlighted easements he thought were “expansive and open-ended,” in an email to Barenz, sent earlier in the day.
Unruh says the land in question is heavily wooded, has village wells on it and power lines that service the village and the wells. He says, by his understanding, as well as the village attorney’s, the lines already there would technically be against the contract.
“They want to be able to create roads on our property,” said Unruh. “They want us to give up any rights to stop them from making loud noises or shadow flicker.”
Unruh says the contract also details how RWE can cut down trees, which is a concern when there are many acres of trees.
“Like the attorney said, we have to think about the future of Curtiss, too,” said Betty Rettig, village president.
She also says she does not like the idea of the renewable energy company being able to cut down trees.
Unruh asked the other board members if he should approach RWE about coming back with an easement.
“You can ask them and see what they say about that,” said Rettig.
In the business potion of the meeting, board members approved signing the master contract and agreements with CBS Squared, Inc., for engineering services on the wastewater treatment plant upgrades and design.
Unruh gave a brief overview of the items negotiated to be in the contract, including the addition of language that allows the board to suspend CBS’s work, if they start doing things the village does not want them to do; guaranteeing that plans and drawings comply with the permits issued to the village; and collaborate with Larry Swarr, director of public works.
In the Department of Public Works report, Swarr reported the Jan. 11, meeting with Abbyland, Foth Engineering and Triplepoint, concerning potential updates to the wastewater treatment plant went well, though Abbyland’s engineers do not totally share the same views on what will work. The updates would allow Curtiss to handle more high-strength waste, instead of Abbyland hauling the waste to their own treatment plant in Abbotsford.
In an update on the pork plant sewer, Swarr says the main issue is fixed, but time will tell if it totally takes care of the issue. It was previously discovered that about half of the biochemical oxygen demand (BODs) from the pork plant were not going through the flume.
Swarr asked board members their thoughts on waiving BOD surcharges for a couple months, unless they see a giant spending spree, until the company figures out what they’re going to do.
“I’m expecting, if the BOD is all coming through that pipe now, that they would be getting a surcharge all the time,” said Swarr.
_ Members approved moving ahead with a well survey, through CTW Corportation, for $3,000.
_ Unruh brought up concerns on two employees’ timecards, as part of the monthly bills. One may not accurately reflect which hours were worked, even if the hour count is correct, and another is concerning travel time. The items will be followed up on and will be on the next agenda for further discussion.
