By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of Reno County Commissioners has placed a moratorium on wind development in the county and due to this policy shift, County Counselor Joe O' Sullivan sees it as best to go back through the planning commission process.
"We thought that the process would be much cleaner and more transparent, whatever decision this board of county commissioners makes, when new proposed legislation comes before it, as well as the pending recommendation for zoning regulations with respect to wind energy, and that any decision that the board makes might well be appealed. What we're doing will not prevent anybody from appealing to the district court, a decision that you ultimately make in this case, but we think whatever decision you make would be better legally supported if we follow this process."
The original wind regulation process was presented to the public as just that and not as a potential ban.
"In the publications for the hearings, it was for wind energy conversion systems regulations," said County Administrator Randy Partington. "All the input they received, the public comments were based on that. Then, when the county commission started making changes, or it became known that they were wanting to ban wind, or at least put a ban in the zoned areas, it made practical sense for people to have a understanding and have the chance to participate in public hearings to know that the new focus is to ban wind in the zoned areas."
The moratorium officially stretches into March 2022 as written, but it is the intent of the commission to take up the issue in December after the planning commission has public input between now and then.