County amends regulations to exempt certain state‑certified utility prefab structures from local inspections

Morgan County approved targeted zoning amendments clarifying applicability of building permits to certain exempt buildings used for utility equipment and cisterns. Planning Director Nicole Hay introduced the amendments and county staff and utility representatives discussed how state certification interacts with local permitting. John Peckler, outside counsel to Xcel Energy, and Jennifer Chester, Xcel's senior manager for siting and land rights, said many utility buildings are specialized and arrive prefabricated with state inspection or certification and would be difficult to disassemble for local inspection. "These structures are inside a fenced substation yard, eliminating the residence concern," Chester said, urging the Board to accept state certification for equipment‑only units.