DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Executive Committee met Sept. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met in Sycamore, Illinois on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. Chair Willis called the meeting to order at 7:48PM. Those Members present were Scott Campbell, Rukisha Crawford, Patrick Deutsch, John Frieders, Kathy Lampkins, Terri Mann-Lamb, Roy Plote, and Ellingsworth Webb. A quorum was established with nine Members present.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Mann-Lamb moved to approve the agenda as presented. Crawford seconded the motion and it was carried by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

It was moved by Webb, seconded by Plote and it was carried by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative to approve the minutes of the August 9, 2023 Executive Committee Meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mike Ostrom of Somonauk called for legal action to be taken against County Board Member Roy Plote for voting on a solar of project where there was a potential conflict of interest.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution R2023-093—A Resolution Authorizing the Extension of the Special Use Permits Granted to DK Solar, LLC, for Solar Projects MI-21-22 & MI-21-23 in Milan Township.

On November 17, 2021, the County Board approved Ordinance O2021-14, which granted two Special Use Permits to DK Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of Samsung Solar Energy 2, LLC, on behalf of itself and the participating landowners, is proposing to build and operate a 90MW solar farm, which will also include a project substation, said solar farm will be spread out over seven (7) separate parcels, said properties being zoned A-1, Agricultural District, and covering approximately 643.59-acres, in Milan Township. The position DeKalb County has taken is to place time limits on all the Special Uses with the understanding that if the developer chooses not to move forward as proposed within that timeframe, then the permit would expire.

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and PJM (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland) control the local and regional grid systems for all of DeKalb County and challenges and delays by both agencies have made it challenging for larger Solar Energy System projects to enter the queue for construction. Without any fault of the developers, the largest of the County’s projects are finding that the original Special Use Permits approved by the County Board are now set to expire in the next few months. Because of this, DK Solar, LLC, has requested an extension of the Special Use Permits issued under Ordinance O2021-14.

Staff recommended approval of an extension.

Lampkins asked Mr. Hiland why the County has not received requests for extension from the Owens Creek and Red Maple Solar projects. Hiland stated that the County may received those requests soon. Campbell asked Hiland whether these projects would now fall under the new state solar regulations is they were to receive an extension. Hiland stated that they would be grandfathered in under the regulations that were in place when the special use permit was granted.

It was moved by Vice-Chair Frieders to authorize the Extension of the Special Use Permits Granted to DK Solar, LLC, for Solar Projects MI-21-22 & MI-21-23 in Milan Township. The motion was seconded by Webb. The motion to forward Resolution R2023-093 to the full County Board recommending their approval was carried by voice vote with all votes cast in the affirmative.

Resolution R2023-094—A Resolution Authorizing the Extension of the Special Use Permits Granted to FFP Community Solar, LLC for the Fitzgerald-Shabbona Projects SH-21-28 & SH-21-29, in Shabbona Township.

On March 16, 2022, the County Board approved Ordinance O2022-04 and Ordinance O2022-05, which granted two Special Use Permits to FFP Community Solar, LLC to allow for the construction and operation of two 2-megawatt solar gardens, referred to as Fitzgerald-Shabbona 1 (Project SH-21-28) and Fitzgerald Shabbona 2 (Project SH-21-29), in Shabbona Township. The position DeKalb County has taken is to place time limits on all the Special Uses with the understanding that if the developer chooses not to move forward as proposed within that timeframe, then the permit would expire.

FFP Community Solar, LLC has notified County Officials that the development of Projects SH-21-28 & SH-21-29 has been delayed due to the delayed announcement of new requirements for participation in the State of Illinois’ Renewal Energy Credit Program and has requested an extension of the Special Use Permits issued under Ordinance O2022-04 and Ordinance O2022-05.

Staff is recommending against the approval of the extension.

It was moved by Vice-Chair Frieders to zuthorize the Extension of the Special Use Permits Granted to FFP Community Solar, LLC for the Fitzgerald-Shabbona Projects SH-21-28 & SH-21-29, in Shabbona Township. The motion was seconded by Webb. The motion to forward Resolution R2023- 094 to the full County Board for further consideration was carried by voice vote with eight votes cast in the affirmative and one in opposition (Mann-Lamb).

APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENTS

Kane, Kendall, DeKalb Workforce Development Board:

• Jolene Willis reappointed for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023 and expiring September 30, 2025.

• Christine DeVlieger reappointed for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023 and expiring September 30, 2025.

• Rukisha Crawford reappointed for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023 and expiring September 30, 2025.

• LaCretia Konan appointed to fill a two-year term expiring September 30, 2024.

DeKalb County Public Building Commission: Cheryl Nicholson reappointed for a five-year term beginning October 1, 2023 and expiring September 30, 2028.

Hinckley Community Fire Protection District: Gary Pozzi appointed to fill a three-year term beginning May 1, 2023 and expiring April 30, 2026.

Drainage Districts:

• Normal District: Barbara Twombly reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2026.

• Union District: Dean Lundeen reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2026.

• Squaw Grove District: Donald Willrett reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2026.

• Victor-Adams District: Ross Adams reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2026.

It was moved by Frieders, seconded by Webb, and was approved by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative. to forward the appointments to the full County Board recommending their approval at the September 20th County Board Meeting.

APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 20th COUNTY BOARD AGENDA

Frieders moved to approval of the County Board Agenda as presented. Plote seconded the motion. The motion was approved by voice vote, will all votes cast in the affirmative.

Crawford asked when the appropriate time would be to add reconsideration of the sale of the DCRNC to the County Board Agenda. Chair Willis explained that discussion of adding to the agenda has ended because the Executive Committee just voted to approve the agenda.

Campbell moved to reconsider the approval of the County Board Agenda. This was seconded by Crawford. Chair Willis called for a roll call vote. The motion to reconsider the approval of the County Board Agenda failed with four votes cast in the affirmative and five opposed. Those voting yea were Campbell, Crawford, Mann-Lamb, and Chair Willis. Those opposed were Deutsch, Frieders, Lampkins, Plote, and Webb.

ADJOURNMENT

Mann-Lamb moved to adjourn the meeting. Crawford seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/minutes-exe-09132023.pdf