Navitas Energy of Minneapolis has reached agreements with three El Paso area townships for road maintenance during the El Paso wind farm project.

The lack of an agreement has been a sticking point with the Woodford County Board in approving a special use agreement for the 3,000-acre wind farm

A stipulation from the Zoning Board of Appeals more than a year ago required an agreement between the company and road commissioners from Greene, El Paso and Palestine townships.

Paul Lewis of Peoria, Navitas' local attorney, confirmed the agreements were reached Monday afternoon.

The county board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Eureka Middle School. The El Paso project, along with a plan to move six towers from near El Paso to near Kappa, is on the agenda.

The commissioners had sought a payment of $1.4 million with no accounting of what the money would go for, Lewis said. That dollar amount has shrunk and the agreement includes what the money will be spent for, but details were unavailable.

If the issue comes for a final vote, more stipulations may be added by the board. For example, Thomas Janssen of Minonk said at the July meeting that he will propose a stipulation that none of the towers be within 1½ miles of the city of El Paso.

The six that are being moved are within 1½ miles of U.S. Route 24 and Interstate 39, but six remain near the city, which has objected to the close location.

Among other complaints, opponents have protested that the 40, 400-foot towers will lower their property values, could be dangerous, and will hamper nearby farmers from using aerial spray applications.

Four projects are underway to build 250, 400-foot wind turbines across about 40,000 acres of Woodford County.

Also on the county board agenda is an ordinance to allow 150-foot, small wind energy systems to people with more than two acres.