The Right Way: St. Joe County Council News
By Dan Schaetzle, St. Joseph County Councilman, Granger
At the Council’s July 9 meeting, we considered an ordinance and two resolutions related to solar farms. The evening’s events show how common sense legislation can have bipartisan support and how a lack of communication across party lines destroys public trust.
This story really started in 2020. It was then that our County Council approved rules for solar farms that made St. Joe County an inviting location. Large-scale solar projects were zoned agricultural and would only have setback requirements of 30 feet from adjacent properties on the side and rear. Solar companies would also have to have a plan for removing all equipment at the end of the project. We instantly became a prime location to set up solar fields.
In the years that followed, large-scale solar projects were approved and have since been constructed in Granger and New Carlisle. A third, much smaller project was approved by the council by a 9-0 vote in 2023. It will be constructed by Notre Dame, just west of the campus.
I have been concerned about our lax county solar rules since before I was elected. I have worked with our county commissioners to track the progress of solar companies trying to plant themselves in our county and have been frank about my displeasure with the solar business model’s dependence on tax breaks as well as the lack of jobs that they bring. I have also made it very clear that solar only belongs in specific areas and under certain circumstances.
As we entered 2024, I began to study what level of restrictions would dissuade solar companies from coming to St. Joe County. Then in June, as the controversy over a large-solar project in Liberty Township started to heat up, I came to the conclusion that 500-foot setbacks, heavy screening requirements, mandatory drain tile replacement, mandatory training of local fire departments to deal with panel fires, a prepaid bond to disassemble the project, and other restrictions would be deterrents to most solar investment.
I also was clear that I would vote against an abatement for the majority of solar projects due to the lack of jobs produced. At the July 9 County Council meeting, we had to consider an ordinance that came to us from the County Area Plan Commission. I had been looking forward to passing this very important ordinance. It increases the distance between solar panels and non-participating residences to 250 feet from the foundation of the home or 150 feet from the closest property line, whichever requirement was greater.
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The Right Way: St. Joe County Council News
By Dan Schaetzle, St. Joseph County Councilman, Granger
. It also requires full screening landscaping the length of a lot line which abuts a subdivision of 10 homes or more. In addition, a decommissioning agreement and a security fund has to be provided by the solar company to the county. Most importantly, all future solar projects must come to the county council for a special use permit. After council comments and almost two hours of community comments, the ordinance passed, 9-0.
Unfortunately, most of the public, myself and the Democratic members of the Council were unaware that on Monday, four solar companies (including Hexagon of the Liberty Township project) had already submitted a commercial plan review. With no mistakes in their applications, these companies will operate under the 2020 solar ordinance. They will not have to come to the council for a special use permit. Council members Drake, Root, Figg and Thomas were aware that the companies had submitted commercial plan reviews but chose not to share that information with their fellow council members or the public until very late in the evening.
Unfortunately, this has created distrust with the citizens of Liberty Township. All nine of us should be working for the common good, not attempting to create “gotcha moments” at the expense of the people and in violation of their trust in us.
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The Right Way: St. Joe County Council News
By Dan Schaetzle, St. Joseph County Councilman, Granger
Most of the public, myself and the Democratic members of the council learned of the commercial plan review submissions when Councilwoman Drake presented her resolution for a “12 Month Solar Moratorium.” As I questioned her on the content of the resolution, she revealed the actions of the solar companies. This was verified by a St. Joe County Area Plan representative.
Regardless, the four Democrats and I had made it very clear over the previous two weeks that we did not support a moratorium for several reasons. Why? First, our job is to make decisions; and we have enough information on solar projects to make decisions, not kick the can down the road.
Second, our ability to use the special use permit and other mechanisms to keep ordinances in committee for up to a year makes a moratorium redundant. Republicans should be for smaller government, not redundant government. Finally, asking folks affected by these projects—whether non-participating residents, participating residents or a company—to put everything on hold for a year while we overanalyze a project would be unsettling for some and unfair to all. The resolution went down in defeat 5-4.
A second resolution to tighten rules around solar was then introduced by myself and the four Democrats. This resolution calls for setbacks for non-participating residential properties to 500 feet from the home or 150 from the home’s property line, whichever is greater.
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The Right Way: St. Joe County Council News
By Dan Schaetzle, St. Joseph County Councilman, Granger
It also increases the minimum distance a solar field must be from non-participating agricultural properties to 150 feet from the property line. For properties that are protected by the National Park Service, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources or other nature conservatories, large-scale solar must be located no less than 500 feet from the property line. Also Type 2 screening is required when large scale solar abuts a residential district, home or conservation property (as listed above). In addition, language is included that would require solar companies to evaluate all drainage tile after construction and replace any damaged tile. This resolution passed 9-0.
With the ordinance we passed at the beginning of the evening, we have a start on sensible solar regulations and a very important tool in the special use permit. The resolution I described in the previous paragraph will make those requirements even stronger once it gets through the Area Plan Commission and back to the Council for final passage. There is still more work to be done, but with sensible regulations in place, the council and commissioners can say no to future projects that greatly intrude on the character of a community and still have the ability to say yes to a project that is a continuation of similar development in a specific area.
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2024 Osceola Music Festival
The Osceola Business Association has announced the 40th Osceola Festival will be held Friday, Aug. 9, from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a free event. Now in its third year, the festival will be held at Fern Hunsberger Park, 202 N. Lamport St. in Osceola.
Organizers say the festival typically attracts over 6,000 fans. All Ears Production will provide a new sound and light show. Entertainment and food schedules are posted on Facebook at Osceola Bluegrass/Music Festival and at OsceolaMusicFestival.com. Food options will include corn and sausage, elephant ears, lemon shakes, BBQ ribs and tips, fries, pulled pork, chicken, ice cream, donuts, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, burgers and hot dogs, and grilled cheese.
The festival serves as a fundraiser for some local organizations. Bus Kelver’s Frog Jumping Contest is on Sunday. Food eating contests are on both Saturday and Sunday featuring corn on the cob and watermelon.
Boy Scout Troop 122 will camp out and build their fund-raising jail. They will also cook up a pancakes and sausage breakfast at 7-10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Many artisans and local businesses also will be participating in the festival.
