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Resident warns council that proposed Delphine annexation and solar farm could threaten local water and neighborhood character
Summary
Don Nitzel told council the proposed annexation of 200.827 acres owned by Delphine Incorporated raises groundwater, contamination and generator noise concerns and said large-scale solar may be inappropriate near residential areas; council later advanced the annexation ordinance on second reading with recorded yes and no votes.
Don Nitzel, a resident identifying himself at 1432 Kensington Road, urged the council to reconsider allowing a large solar development tied to a pending annexation application. He said core drilling and site work may expose sandy gravel that could carry contaminants toward nearby well fields and stressed the city should not allow the solar project to proceed without addressing water‑quality risks.
“When they core drilled the property ... If anything, something should happen out there, and those are I've been told that does contaminate,” Nitzel said, adding that the West (Lehi) well field is roughly two miles from the site and that the city should be cautious about potential impacts to its water supply.
Nitzel also questioned operational aspects of utility‑scale solar, saying that when solar output falls short some projects use diesel generators to meet contractual obligations. “Solar's not the answer,” he said, arguing that intermittent generation and supplemental diesel usage undercut the project’s environmental rationale.
Council had the annexation ordinance on the agenda: an ordinance accepting application to annex approximately 200.827 acres owned by Delphine Incorporated in Lake Township and establishing zoning and map amendments (ordinance 25-31). On second reading the motion to pass advanced; roll‑call votes recorded yes votes from Mister Davis, Missus Fitzpatrick, Missus James, Mister Reeser and Missus Baker, and recorded no votes from Mister Springs and Mister Aylor. The ordinance advanced on second reading by that recorded vote.
Nitzel’s remarks were not followed by a technical staff presentation on groundwater risk at this meeting. Council did not state a plan to delay the annexation pending a specific environmental study during the session. Members of council who voted in favor did not publicly dispute the specific groundwater points during the recorded vote.
The annexation will proceed through the legislative process; any environmental review requirements, mitigation or conditions would be determined in subsequent committee or staff reports or as required by applicable regulations.
