The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill correspondent
The Hancock County board approved a plan to use a percentage of company fees, to pay Jeff Totten for his work for the county as administrator of the solar/wind permitting process.
At their meeting May 25, the board adopted a plan for Totten to receive 10 percent of fees paid by wind or solar companies for permits to build in the county. He would use another 5 percent administratively to funds needed for expenses of other departments caused by the projects.
Companies pay these fees based on the megawatts generated. Totten was asked to develop a fee schedule, that would cover costs or damages incurred by the county as these projects are built.
For example, if the county has a road use agreement with the company, payment to cover any road repairs would come out of the fees.
“If we don’t spend the money (from permit fees) it goes back to them (the company), but if we need more, say on the road use process, we can charge them for it. Each project is going to be different,” Totten said. “That’s why we need this fee schedule, to write down what we’re spending this money on.”
Totten will work with State’s Attorney Bobi James and County Engineer Elgin Berry to create a fee schedule resolution to bring to the board.
Alex Fargas from 22C, a solar power company of southern Illinois, spoke to the board via telephone about their solar projects in the county. He currently has four permits for solar projects on land leased in Hancock County.
County economic development director, Samantha Harnack, relayed questions she has received about solar projects, including how are they taxed, what is the benefit to the county, and what happens when they are no longer used.
Fargas was unable to attend the meeting after it was rescheduled due to threatening weather. He offered to come to a future board meeting to talk about the projects and answer any questions.
In other business, the county will pay $76,930 for 30 newer handicapped voting machines.
County Clerk Holly Tillman-Wilde had reported to the finance committee that $50,000 was budgeted for the new machines.
The board approved using $26,000 from ARPA funds to complete the purchase. ARPA Funds are federal American Rescue Plan Act funds from 2021. These funds to cities and counties must be used or allocated by December 31, 2024.
Maintenance costs on these newer voting machines will be lower, according to Tillman-Wilde. The county would pay $6,900 per year instead of the current $11,000.
The board declared two older ambulances as surplus so they may be sold. It was noted that Jeff Totten is interested in acquiring one of them to use as a command center, in his role as Hancock County Emergency Disaster Agency director. Other counties may be interested in purchasing one of the ambulances.
The board designated the Connable Road as a Class II Truck Route with the planned road improvements this summer. Berry noted that this designation has to do with length and width of the road. Work is scheduled on the Colusa Road in 2025.
A resolution outlining maximum costs for travel expenses for county employees was approved.
The board made the following appointments: