Annexation of solar energy plants tabled again

Once again, Wilmington City Council held a public hearing for the proposed annexation of approximately 100 acres located along Illinois 53 and Coal City Road.
The ultimate purpose of the annexation will be to obtain a special use permit for two separate solar farms for review by the Will County Board at a later date.
A decision was withheld at the June 17 council meeting as Cypress Creek Renewables and Emeren, neglected to advise Custer Township of the annexation in writing as legally required.
Their efforts to notify Custer Township proved easier said than done.
While Custer Township Highway Commissioner Bill Marquardt was successfully advised of the annexation, correspondence sent to Custer Township representatives was returned to sender, as there is no mail receptacle at the address where the notices were sent.
“It doesn't stop us from having this hearing,” city attorney Brian Wellner said. “It doesn't stop us from taking action on the annexation.”
Background
The tract of land in questioned consists of approximately 152 acres, and is owned by James and Laurie Fleishman of Verona. For the 152 acre parcel (PIN no. 03-17-35-300-002-0000), annual taxes are $4,353 per year, and if the annexation is approved, the property will continue to be zoned agricultural.
Another 20-acre tract of land intended as part of the solar plant is already zoned within the boundaries of the city of Wilmington.
Wilmington’s Planning and Zoning Commission already recommended annexation of the farmland to be leased to the corporations with two conditions 1) No battery storage will be permitted on the property, and 2) A solid fence be installed on property lines adjacent to residential properties.
The corporations returned to city hall on June 17 to answer questions from the public. Some residents liked the idea of solar plants. Others did not.
Jack Plese shared he’s in favor of having a solar energy plant as a neighbor. He believes solar energy is the way of the future. “It takes 377 gallons of water per person to generate electricity,” he said. “Aquifers are going dry.”
Jay Plese, on the other hand, is opposed to the solar plants. In addition to questioning the zoning and the fact that the corporations didn’t plan to use union labor, Plese expressed concern about road damage.
“I've been a farmer all my life, and an educator,” he said. “I do not like solar fields. You're going to be using Coal City Road, which is a partnership road. I want to know what's going to happen with that road.”
Union labor? Yes, please
At the June 17 council meeting, Ryan Anderson of Cypress Creek Renewables, said union labor would not be used to build the plant, much to the dismay of several council members and residents.
By the time July 1 rolled around, he had changed his tune.
“Last time I answered there would be no union labor,” Anderson said. “That just came from my inexperience and my separation from those actual agreements.”
He said there will undoubtedly be “some union labor.” However, at this point he said he doesn’t have exact numbers.
Overweight trucks
Mike Adams, who lives in the vicinity of the proposed solar farms spoke about the likelihood of overweight trucks traversing Coal City Road. He suggested construction traffic use River Road.
“I have a truck, and I was told that I can't bring a trailer,” Adams said. “I can only have my truck down there.”
The project’s civil engineer William Sawyer addressed the issue.
“There will be a pre-construction survey,” Sawyer said. “We look at it, we document it. It’s all done before a single truck is out on the roads.”
Wellner reassured the council and residents. “If they damage it, they will repair it,” he said.
Vote taken
Though the Custer Township “mail blunder” didn’t hold things up, a couple of alderpersons threw the proverbial monkey wrench into the works by voting against annexation.
Councilmen Ryan Knight and Kevin Kerwin both nixed the annexation request.
Normally, had all alderpersons been present at the meeting, the annexation request would have passed by the two-thirds required.
However, Rachel Conforti and Todd Holmes were absent. Even with Mayor Ben Dietz voting to approve the annexation, it didn’t pass.
A motion to reconsider the issue on July 15 was agreed. The annexation requests were both tabled until the July 15 council meeting.