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Council approves first reading of local solar code after split vote
Summary
Bellefontaine City Council took a first-reading vote to codify local solar energy regulations — a measure the administration and planning commission requested — passing the ordinance on first reading by a narrow roll-call margin with several members voting no.
Council considered ordinance 25-26 to create a new chapter in the municipal code to regulate solar energy systems. Council member Missus James summarized the rationale: the administration and the planning commission "really strongly prefer to have something in the code either way for solar before they hear any or approve any zoning request to change to or come in as M1 or M2." She asked for first reading only.
On the roll-call for first reading, the council recorded several 'Yes' votes and at least three 'No' votes. The recorded votes in the meeting transcript show Mister Ehler voting No, Missus James voting No, and Mister Strengths voting No; Missus Baker, Mister Davis, Missus Fitzpatrick and Mister Reeser recorded Yes votes. The motion to pass on first reading only carried at the meeting by that recorded margin.
Council did not finalize technical details of the code during the meeting; the motion advanced the ordinance to the next stage where staff and the planning commission will continue review. The meeting record does not show amendments to the draft language at this session.
