Developers to file solar, battery and wind applications; county schedules tentative public hearing and investigates property tax complaints

County planning staff told the board that a developer expects to file a complete application for solar, battery storage and a wind‑related proposal on Aug. 26, and staff tentatively scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 22 to consider the filings. Planner Lisa said the applicant will provide required hard copies and electronic materials and that staff are considering holding the hearing either during a daytime study session or in the evening; the planner noted the county may combine hearings for the standalone battery storage, wind and solar projects to reduce cost and attorney time. Lisa described logistics the applicant provided: the battery units would arrive in permanent containers and the substation would come in on a 15‑axle trailer, arriving from a state highway (U.S. 150) rather than via township roads. Staff said the battery delivery and the anticipated traffic impacts were limited compared with wind projects, which have larger and more complex transport needs. Separately at the meeting, landowners and a board member raised concerns about property‑tax bills received near existing solar installations. A citizen reported that several landowners near a Darwin Township project received tax bills showing an 86% increase and questioned whether the solar farm had caused reassessments of surrounding farmland. The board directed staff to ask the assessor (Dina) to investigate and report back. The planner also said the developer had held a public information meeting and that the county will work with the attorney to set ordinance review timelines; she asked the board to reserve Sept. 8 for a study session if legal materials arrive in time. No final land‑use decisions were made at the study session; the board’s next steps are to accept the application when filed, hold the public hearing and review legal proposals before deliberation.