Commissioner urges extension of battery-storage moratorium after fire-safety concerns; staff to research legal limits
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Summary
Commissioner Lipinski urged the board to extend a moratorium on battery storage while consulting local fire departments; staff member Mister Wilson said he will research legal limits and report back. A public commenter, Stan Oiler, urged an ordinance if a moratorium is not possible.
Commissioner Lipinski raised concerns about battery storage safety and urged extending the county's moratorium while staff consult local fire departments, saying he believed volunteer departments are "not prepared for this right now." Lipinski asked staff to review whether a moratorium could be extended and to coordinate with Kokomo and volunteer fire departments for input.
Mister Wilson responded that he would provide a definitive legal answer, noting that state law appears to limit moratoria to one year and that the start of that period can be legally uncertain in some circumstances.
During public comment, Stan Oiler of Eastern Howard County told the commissioners he has researched the issue for eight to 10 months and "can't find anything good about it," urging either a moratorium or a restricting ordinance with local fire-department input. The board did not take a formal vote on the moratorium; staff was asked to research options and report back.
What remains: Staff research on the legal limits of moratoria and potential ordinance language, and further consultation with local fire chiefs. No ordinance or moratorium extension was adopted at this meeting.