County approves wind ordinance amendment

Updated rules tighten noise, setbacks, and turbine standards

The Emmet County Board of Supervisors at itsTuesday, March 17 meeting on second reading approved an amendment to the 2013 zoning ordinance regulating wind energy in the county.

The revised ordinance includes Planning and Zoning revisions lowering maximum allowable decibels from 50 to 46, reducing maximum shadow flicker from 30 to 10 hours yearly and requiring disassembly of turbines during decommissioning to prevent possible soil contamination from fiberglass blades. Turbines will be a minimum of 2,900 feet from human-occupied dwellings and 110 percent of a turbine overall height from nonparticipating landowner property lines.

Supervisor Jeff Quastad, who had called for a vote for a second reading at the board’s March 10 meeting, again asked if anyone in the audience wanted a third reading.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” said Norma Beaver, who at previous meetings has expressed her opposition to 600-foot turbines. Beaver asked about monitoring of oil leakage.

Board Chair Lisa Hansen said she assumed the wind farm manager would monitor oil leakage. Emmet County Attorney Melanie Summers Bauler said if someone notices oil leakage, that person should contact the county which could in turn contact the site manager.

Laura Winter gave supervisors an article disputing green energy from turbines. The article maintained that the only people who would benefit would be corporations and absentee landowners.

After further discussion, Supervisor John Pluth moved that the board approve the ordinance and waive third reading. Supervisor Tod Glasnapp seconded his motion.

During discussion, Supervisor Tim Schumacher said the board should have three readings so no one could come back on the issue. “I would just feel better if you have the third reading,” Schumacher said.

Bauler said a third reading would require extending the moratorium on wind projects past the current March 31 end date.

The board voted to adopt the ordinance.

Quastad clarified that the moratorium will continue on solar projects.

In other business, the board discussed a possible move by Emmet County ISU Extension into the static exhibits building at the Emmet County Fairgrounds. Joining the supervisors in the discussion were Cami Paulson, Bret Mace and Brian Rosburg of the Fair Board and ISU Ag Extension Region 2 Director Melissa Lutat. Extension is proposing a move from its current offices across from Estherville Lincoln Central High School to the static exhibits building which they would remodel.

Paulson asked supervisors if they had any questions about the plan.

“There would be no property changing hands,” Quastad said.

Paulson said Extension would pay rent.

Lutat said ISU Extension has experience locating to fairgrounds around Iowa, and they pay monthly rent in Dickinson County.

Bauler had concerns about the mechanics of the move.

“How that affects the county is the question,” said Bauler. “You’re adding a mortgage to a county-owned property.”

“There’s 99 other offices that have gone through this” said Lutat.

Pluth said he wasn’t opposed to the move but wanted to know how the details would be worked out.

Bauler said the board needed to have a memorandum of understanding with Extension.

Supervisor Tim Schumacher said he didn’t want the remodeled facility to duplicate possible later plans for a larger facility at the fairgrounds.

The board agreed by consensus to move forward with a memorandum of understanding with Extension, which Bauler would review.

The board also discussed tax askings for Public Health, Conservation and Veterans’ Affairs. Emmet County Public Health Director Kathy Johnson was on hand for the discussion.

Pluth said the supervisors could not control what independent boards recommend for raises. He said he thought Johnson should earn less, not more, than her predecessor Kari Batman. He said the supervisors had taken a zero percent raise.

“I have no control over what they (board) offered me to take the position,” said Johnson. She also observed that she held two master’s degrees.

The board settled on fiscal 2027 tax askings of $410,000 for Public Health, $298,000 for Conservation and $89,980 for Veterans’ Affairs.

The board also approved a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment for non-elected, non-board run, non-wage matrix departments.

The board approved discontinuing mileage to attend supervisors’ meetings. Supervisors will still receive mileage for attending out-of-town meetings.

The board also heard committee reports and comments from the public. Auditor Heidi Goebel reported on an Iowa State Association of Counties spring conference and Norma Beaver asked which offices will remain in the Courthouse.

Quastad said the recorder and assessor will remain in the Courthouse and the treasurer and auditor will move to the west administration building. He said the supervisors have not yet decided whether they will move. Goebel said adult and juvenile probation offices will remain in the Courthouse and Pluth said the engineer’s office will move to the new secondary roads building by the fairgrounds.

Goebel said plans are for offices to relocate to the west administration building by May 1.

The board also approved a manure management plan by Paul Clausen.