A decision on a submitted amendment that would prohibit industrial wind turbines in Cherry county was tabled at the November 6 meeting by the Planning and Zoning Board. Any decision will occur at its next meeting.
The amendment submitted in February, 2018 would repeal section 613 clauses in the county zoning regulations and replace them with language indicating that only personal use turbines of 80 feet or a lesser height would be allowed in Cherry County.
Rancher Wayne Eatinger explained his reasons for filing the amendment at the start of the public hearing, indicating why the change was necessary. He also submitted several documents prepared as testimony for the public hearing held November 6th, including commentary that would be discussed later by others.
Twenty people testified in support of the amendment including Le Roy and Carolyn Semin of Kilgore, Mike Young, Wanda Simonson representing her family, Gary and Glenda Phipps from north of Whitman, Craig Miles at Brownlee, Rick Weber, Sherri Bacon, golf aficionado Cleve Trimble and young rancher Brock Moreland who had to hurriedly leave behind chores at the ranch near Merriman to get to the hearing.
Dave Hamilton was the only one that spoke against the amendment.
Proponents of the amendment to prohibit industrial wind turbines referred to common themes that have been regularly discussed at several previous public hearings. These topics included: preserving the unique values of the sandhills including its notable viewscapes and life-style features so appreciated and important to residents and their friends and so many others including a regular multitude of visitors, avoiding impacts on tourism and recreation, negative impacts of turbine noise, loss of property value, negatives of turbine flicker, decommissioning of no longer useful turbines, loss of dark skies, “red-light” districts where the aircraft flight warning lights atop turbines would blink incessantly, threats to the endangered Whooping Crane and other wild birds of conservation concern, potential threats to groundwater quality, etc.
A common theme was that the Sand Hills are superb cattle country and should remain that way. There were many heartfelt words shared by some speakers as they shared experiences of people that have experienced negative impacts associated with industrial turbine facilities when the structures became prevalent to their place in the country in other states.
A few minutes of the hearing need to be especially appreciated and recognized. Bob Stetter has decades of life experiences in the sandhills. He waited until nearly the end of the hearing to speak. While sitting at the long end of the courtroom bench, when someone else would get up to speak, he sat down and patiently waited for the right time, which was an iconic moment in the courtroom. He slowly walked past other fine folks seated on the bench to his left to get to the desk where he would speak. After some more moments he slowly wrote his name twice on a page provided so there would be an officialist’s list of those giving testimony. Cattleman Bob sat in a hard wooden chair in front of the microphone and spoke significant words why there should be no wind turbines in the Sandhills. He said he would never take any amount of money in the world for turbines on any property he ever owned. Everyone was listening but there were no comments on one obvious misspoken word. There were a lot of busy eyes, because everyone realized the slip, but kept silent as it was very soon self-corrected. Details he presented were spot-on. These were Bob’s true words: “Cherry County is cattle country and not a place for industrial wind turbines.” His commentary was carefully typed and he read most of its details. One zoning board member tried to stop him from speaking because he had exceeded the five minute speaking limit, but the distinctive words continued for a short time. Upon conclusion, board members were given a copy of his written comments. Stetter has been a stalwart activist against wind turbines at many public hearings at Valentine.
The single opponent to the amendment touted supposed economic benefits and that turbines are a changing paradigm and need to be allowed. This speaker stated that the referendum was a “stalling tactic” by people “clinging to the past.”
There were at least 75 people attending the hearing, and when one speaker asked that those in favor of the amendment to prevent wind turbines stand to indicate their view, everyone stood except for three people associated with the turbine facility development company or the local group promoting turbines.
Those attending were predominantly ranchers from all sections of Cherry county and spoke with authority and knowledge. They also provided ample documentary proof, so obviously they had been doing much more than ranch chores. Some of the speakers indicated how industrial wind turbines could be a threat to their livelihood.
The hearing lasted from 4:30 p.m. until 6:10 p.m. Everyone that wanted to speak was allowed five minutes to present their testimony.
Following the hearing, and during subsequent board discussion, member Gary Swanson posed the situation as being two conflicting visions for the county. “Someone wants to impose their will on somebody else.”
One future would mean no turbines in the county. The alternative would result in wind turbine facilities and associated industrial powerlines crossing the land.
Another concern discussed by the board is the difficulty of getting enough members to attend meetings to make certain there is the required quorum, such as the five members present on the 6th. There are currently two vacancies. It was expressed that hopefully more members could be present at the next meeting scheduled for December 4th.
Following any decision on the Eatinger amendment by the Planning and Zoning Board, their recommendation will be submitted to the county commissioners for their yes or no vote after another public hearing.
At the pending December meeting there is an expected public hearing on the William Weller amendment requested a change in zoning regulations. Language which currently indicates commercial/utility grade wind energy conversion systems would be revised to industrial grade wind energy conversion systems. This amendment was submitted July 19, 2018.
The Eatinger amendment public hearing was held at the Cherry County courtroom along north Main Street, Valentine.