On Thursday, the Livingston County Board learned more details of the technical aspects of the road agreement between the county and Iberdrola Renewables involving wind turbines to be erected between Saunemin and Odell. The road agreement is the first step in the company erecting 155 turbines. Work is expected to begin this fall. The board approved a special-use permit for the wind farm in July on the condition that Iberdrola and the county reach an agreement within 45 days - or by Sept. 2 - on the road work to be done as part of the turbine construction process.

On Thursday, the Livingston County Board learned more details of the technical aspects of the road agreement between the county and Iberdrola Renewables involving wind turbines to be erected between Saunemin and Odell.

The road agreement is the first step in the company erecting 155 turbines. Work is expected to begin this fall.

The board approved a special-use permit for the wind farm in July on the condition that Iberdrola and the county reach an agreement within 45 days - or by Sept. 2 - on the road work to be done as part of the turbine construction process.

County Engineer David Winters said the road agreement is nearly complete and will involve 6.2 miles of county roads and 41 miles of township roads.

The county roads involved, according to Winters, include what is known as the "Emington Spur" (or County Highway 23), which runs from Ill. Rte. 47 eastward into Emington. The other county roadway involved is south of Odell.

"The county is reserving the right to establish road damage from Iberdrola. Iberdrola will totally rehabilitate any roads which are destroyed in their construction process. They will be upgrading roads as work on the wind towers is being done," said Winters. "Iberdrola will be making a payment of $600,000 as an up-front payment and then $8,000 a month for construction time."

Winters said the road agreement for the county roads is almost completely done and the agreement for the county roads is almost completely done and the agreement for the townships is still not done but very close.

County Board Attorney Tom Blakeman said the escrow account from Iberdrola - $500,000 - is to be established as back-up, and the road agreements need to be completed and acted upon by Sept. 2.

County Board Chairman Bill Flott set Thursday, Aug. 28, as the date for a special board meeting to deal with these two issues, and will still meet the Sept. 2 deadline.

Blakeman said the county wants Iberdrola to set-up the escrow account in a Livingston County bank or banks. Iberdrola had wanted to set the account up in a McLean County bank but has agreed to use one in Livingston County instead.

In an unrelated matter, the board approved a zoning variance in a flood plain area.

The flood plain zoning case involves a residence along 4-H Park Road, located just before the Interstate 55 overpass.

Zoning Administrator Chuck Schopp told the board that the owners of the home in the flood plain are planning on remodeling the home.

"The remodeling of this home will cause it to become more flood-proof than ever before," said Schopp just prior to the board's vote.

Roger Wahls, Chairman of the board's Sheriff, Jail and License Committee updated the board that the sheriff's department needs to hire two new correctional officers for the jail and two dispatchers for LIVCOM.

The board approved a liquor license permit for Radiant Trading Inc., of South Streator, pending final approval by the Livingston County State's Attorney's office.

Bill Fairfield, chairman on the board's Information and Technology Committee, told the board that equipment is being finalized for video arraignments of inmates.

The board's next regular meeting will be Sept. 11.

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