The Stevenson County Board approved a zoning recommendation for a 4.99-megawatt AC solar facility on a 40-acre portion of a 76.82-acre parcel at North Harlem Center Road, after the Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval with a responsiveness condition.

Zoning Director Beth Henning told the board the Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-0 to recommend the project by 601 Freeport Illinois Solar LLC, with a condition that the company must respond to any complaints within 72 hours to the Zoning Department. Henning said three of 11 adjacent landowners objected at the ZBA hearing.

Board members emphasized the county's limited authority over such projects. "We really don't have any authority in this matter whatsoever," said Mr. Whelan, noting a state statute requires approval so long as state standards are met. Mr. Frick pointed to emerging state-level measures, saying only about 30% of approved facilities nationally are ever built and that the Illinois Department of Agriculture is using a new geographic concentration score to evaluate siting across regions.

Local concerns raised in public comment included vegetation screening choices, abandoned equipment at prior solar sites, and noxious weed control. Karen Rivers, a public commenter, criticized county enforcement and asked why telephone conversations between zoning staff and solar personnel had not been relayed to citizens. County staff responded that the application typically specifies "evergreen screening" but not a particular species; they said the ZBA or county board could require specific plantings if the board chose.

Action taken: The county board moved to approve the permit after a motion by Mr. Denton and a second by Mrs. Dininger; three board members—Jogurst, Demeester and Wayland—voted no. The approval included the ZBA's 72-hour complaint-response condition.

Why this matters: The conversation underscores the tension between county-level concerns about local impacts and state statutes and agency rules that govern solar siting. Residents and some board members said they would like clearer county control over screening materials and enforcement; planners said statutory limits constrain local discretion.

Ending: County staff said they will monitor complaints and enforce the 72-hour response condition; the discussion signaled continued citizen scrutiny and potential follow-up as the project moves toward construction or abandonment depending on market decisions by the developer.