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Residents urge one‑mile setbacks for turbines, warn of debris risks at Des Moines County meeting
Summary
Public commenters at the Des Moines County supervisors meeting urged the county to increase wind‑turbine setbacks for nonparticipating landowners to 5,280 feet and warned that debris and extreme weather create safety risks; speakers asked for precise, aerial‑based setback measurements and cemetery protections.
Two residents used the board's public‑comment period on Dec. 2 to call for major changes to county wind‑turbine setback rules.
Jeff Fisher of Pleasant Grove Township told the board the existing standard (1,800 feet or turbine height plus 10% from boundary line, as he described it) does not adequately protect nonparticipating landowners, livestock or property from hazards such as flying debris. "To ensure safety and fairness, I strongly propose a minimum setback of 5,280 feet from all property boundary lines for nonparticipating landowners," Fisher said. He also requested that cemeteries receive the same one‑mile protection and urged the county use precise aerial photography to set and measure setbacks rather than vague tolerances.
Charles Tompkinson told the board he feared turbine debris in extreme weather and argued setback formulas should be proportional to turbine height. Reaching for what he described as data, Tompkinson said a 400‑foot baseline with proportional scaling would be safer for nearby residents and livestock, and he urged supervisors to review scientific studies and safety guidance before setting standards.
There was no formal response from the board or staff during the public‑comment period to the substantive proposals; the meeting moved to adjournment after public input closed. Supervisors did not take action on wind setbacks at this session.
What happens next: Public comments will be part of the record for any future land‑use or zoning review related to wind‑energy siting. If supervisors or staff place turbine setbacks on a future agenda, staff will be expected to provide legal, technical and policy analysis before any ordinance or rule changes.
Speakers: Jeff Fisher (Pleasant Grove Township) and Charles Tompkinson (identified in the record as "Health Yarmouth") framed the primary concerns and offered specific numeric proposals during the two‑minute public‑comment slots.
