County staff report no confirmed bald-eagle nesting at solar site; construction continues

County staff told the Barry County Board of Commissioners on July 8 that there is no confirmed bald-eagle nesting activity at the county solar-field construction site after residents reported possible nesting.

A county staff member who identified himself as Greg said staff followed up with the resident who reported the activity, that the resident had not provided specifics, and that site inspections so far have turned up no evidence of nesting. Greg said U.S. Fish and Wildlife was part of the initial report and that county staff will continue monitoring the site and report updates to townships.

Commissioner Campbell asked the staff to provide an update, and Greg described ongoing construction: contractors are conducting boring for AC and DC connection lines, piles have started to be driven in some areas, construction trailers are arriving and access roads are in place. Staff said they are notifying nearby residents when particularly noisy work is scheduled and endeavoring to minimize impacts.

Greg also described related county construction near Hastings: work on a co-located substation and a reconstructed city gate at a site named Boltwood; underground connections and pipeline work were noted as continuing for at least another month and a half. County staff forecast additional large projects that they said will bring substantial investment to the county in coming years.

No enforcement actions or nest-protection measures were announced at the meeting; staff said monitoring will continue and township briefings were planned.