Barron County board affirms executive committee action to seek judicial review of Maple Grove Solar decision and authorizes negotiations

The Barron County Board of Supervisors voted to confirm action by the county executive committee to file a petition for judicial review of the Public Service Commission's decision regarding Maple Grove Solar and authorized county negotiators to continue negotiations to conclude a joint developers agreement.

A motion to confirm the executive committee's action and to authorize the county's negotiators (as recorded) carried by unanimous recorded vote. The board then moved to a closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) (deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public property, investing public funds, or competitive bargaining reasons) and 19.85(1)(g) (conferring with legal counsel regarding litigation), to include county board members and specified staff. The motion to enter closed session passed, recorded as 27 yes, 1 abstention and 1 absent; the abstention was recorded for a supervisor who recused.

During the open session motion, the board asked that no county board members be listed on certain negotiation documents and discussed that negotiators would take up topics including fire and liability matters as part of ongoing talks. After the closed session vote, the board indicated the motion authorizing confirmation and negotiation had passed unanimously when returned to open session and adjourned the meeting by unanimous consent.