Public hearing draws opposition to proposed substation; committee advances new city slogan choices and hires joint grant writer

The Economic Development Committee held a public hearing on a proposal from Evangirl, an energy company, to purchase property in the Northeast New London Business Center for a substation and maintenance facility that would connect to a proposed solar array about two miles north of the city limits. The public hearing drew several speakers who identified themselves as residents of the town of Maple Creek and spoke against the project; no one spoke in favor. Committee minutes list those who spoke against the proposal as Paul Zemer, Scott Cartwright, Paul Gitter, Steve Thompson, Treg First and Troy Mark, all identifying as Maple Creek residents. The committee closed the public hearing and thanked those who provided input. The minutes do not state a committee recommendation on the land sale or zoning; the matter later moved to a closed session for deliberations on the sale of land in the Northeast New London Business Center under statutory exemption 19.85(1)(e). Separately, the committee introduced Peyton Lanhear as the new joint grant writer for the New London Chamber, New London School District and the City of New London and advanced three finalist slogans — Where the Wolf Flows, Community Grows; Where the River Leads Home; and Small Town Big Welcome — to a public vote, with voting locations and an email option provided through Aug. 19. The committee's minutes record community economic activity including new business openings and facade grant availability. The public hearing record and subsequent closed session entry indicate that the substation proposal generated resident concern; the transcript does not include technical project details, proposed site plan, or the city's position on the sale beyond scheduling a closed session for negotiation.