Submitted by a Citizen of Ripley County
On October 16th, the Ripley County Commissioners, at their regularly scheduled Commissioner’s meeting, considered a County Ordinance proposed by the Area Planning Commission.
The Area Planning Commission, an entity comprised of 10 individuals in total – 6 who are appointed by the towns of Ripley County, County Surveyor Jeff French, Local Purdue Extension educator David Osborne, and appointees of the Ripley County Commissions and Ripley County Council, made a recommendation for the adoption of a solar ordinance which Area Planning and the Tech Review Committee spent the from May until October reviewing, refining, and taking public comment on. The total summation of man hours spent on the endeavor between Tech Review members, Area Planning Commissioners, and Citizens and hire legal counsel extend well into the 1000s.
Upon consideration the Ripley County Commissioners, comprised of Kendall Hankins, Chris Schmaltz, and Mark Horstman, by a 2-1 vote chose to deny the Area Planning Commission’s proposed statute and recommend a lesser minimum setback requirement for commercial solar panels to be in line with state recommendations – namely 10 feet from county roads, 50 feet from non-participating property lines, and 250feet from residences. The proposed setback distance from Area Planning was 200 feet from non-participating property lines and 100 feet from roadways.
The Area Planning Commission receive the Commissioner’s denial and proposal on November 13th during a public meeting at which the Commissioners were requested to be present. Area Planning proposed various questions to Kendal Hankins, Chris Schmaltz, and Mark Horstman. All three Commissioners provided a justification for their input and provided some indication as to their treatment of the ordinance in the future. Kendall Hankins Chris Schmaltz both indicating their continued support for lesser setbacks leaning on the ability of the Board of Zoning Appeals to review matters on a case by case basis and impose a setback the governing body feels is appropriate as well as apparent interactions with individuals not present at the public meetings who speak in favor of lesser setbacks. Commissioner Mark Horstman agreed with the proposed ordinance. Ultimately, By a vote of 7-2, the Area Planning Commission voted to deny the Commissioner’s proposal and to send the ordinance back to the Commissioner’s as originally proposed.
Procedurally, the County Commissioners have 45 days to (1) Deny Area Planning’s Proposed Ordinance and Adopt the Ordinance with their proposals; (2) Accept Area Planning’s Proposed Ordinance. Based upon statements made by Kendall Hankins and Chris Schmaltz, both have indicated that they will deny Area Planning’s proposed ordinance and adopt the ordinance based upon the Commissioner’s proposals – i.e. state minimum setbacks. Such an action more or less ignores the hours and efforts of the Area Planning Commission and the input and considerations of the Citizens and Communities who have invested thousands of man hours to develop the proposed ordinance and inserts the opinions of two county commissioners who were apparently swayed by comments made not during the numerous public meetings.
Of note, Kendall Hankins presently is employed in a position with Southeast Indiana REMC and Christ Schmaltz has served for over 20 years on an electrical company board(s). Both have publicly acknowledged their past and current role on the public record. Further, Kendall Hankins stated at the most recent Area Planning Committee meeting that he will not be seeking re-election for an additional term.
This story was submitted as an Opinion Article and does not reflect the views of The 812.
Comments