By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission will be asked to approve a set of agreements related to the Tallgrass Development solar project during its 8:30 a.m. meeting on Tuesday.
The agreements would allow the county to use legal and technical consultants to review the project’s complex documents.
One agreement is a reimbursement agreement between Ellis County and Tallgrass Development LLC, where the developer would reimburse the county for up to $110,000 in review costs as the project moves through the commission process.
The second agreement is with Foulston Attorneys at Law and will provide legal counsel and ensure the county's interests are protected in the documentation.
The third is with ArceStrong, which would assist the county with expertise in building solar projects and help evaluate local impacts.
The $275 million proposed project would be located in southwest Ellis County. Project documents include a conditional-use permit, county resolutions, payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement and road use agreement.
SEE RELATED STORY: Solar developer answers Ellis County Commission questions
SEE RELATED STORY: Planning commission sends solar project to Ellis County Commission
Other business
• A bid to produce about 10,000 tons of cold-mix asphalt for the county's 2026 asphalt maintenance plan.
• Purchase of firefighting protective gear and medical exams for the Ellis County Fire Department with assistance from grant funding.
• Purchase of a fire skid unit for the county fire department company in Schoenchen, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Purchase of a new phone, radio and dispatch screen recording system for the emergency communication center.
Executive Director of Grow Hays Doug Williams will present an annual update to the commission.
You can view the full agenda here.