Adams County supervisors set March consultation, April public hearing on Amendment No. 2 to Southern Hills Wind Farm urban renewal plan
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Summary
The Adams County Board of Supervisors voted to set a March 24 consultation and April 13 public hearing on Amendment No. 2 to the Southern Hills Wind Farm Urban Renewal Plan, which would add Prescott Wind Farm parcels and extensive road rights-of-way and authorize up to $1,196,705,295 in TIF financing.
The Adams County Board of Supervisors voted to set a consultation for 9 a.m. on March 24 and a public hearing for 9 a.m. on April 13 to consider Amendment No. 2 to the Southern Hills Wind Farm Urban Renewal Plan, which would add multiple Prescott Wind Farm turbine parcels, an O&M building parcel and broad road right-of-way areas to the county’s urban renewal boundaries.
The action, approved March 9 by a 4-0 vote (Scott Akin moved; Leland Shipley seconded; Bobbi Maynes absent), directs the County Auditor to mail notice and materials to affected taxing entities and publish a hearing notice in the Adams County Free Press. The resolution invokes the consultation and hearing procedures required by Section 403.5 and Section 403.17(1) of the Code of Iowa.
Why it matters: the Amendment would expand the Urban Renewal Area to include 13 enumerated Prescott Wind Farm turbine parcels and access easements and to add dozens of county and town road rights-of-way. The document lists eligible public improvements and estimates that Tax Increment Financing (TIF) used to help pay for projects in the Area would not exceed $1,196,705,295. The Amendment also updates cost authorizations for previously approved bridge projects (for example, Colony 14 to $6,417,000; Nodaway 09 to $14,490,000; Lincoln 04 to $10,660,500) and identifies a long list of new bridge, resurfacing and culvert projects in Exhibit B.
Details in the Amendment: Exhibit B lists hundreds of public-improvement line items — bridge replacements, resurfacing segments, grading and paving work, culvert replacements and a reconstruction of 210th Street — with individual not-to-exceed costs. The Amendment separately lists estimated reimbursements for planning, engineering and legal fees (not to exceed $35,000) and states that the updates to previously authorized projects total $56,844,600. The Amendment text and exhibits are on file in the Adams County Auditor’s office for public inspection.
Process and next steps: under the rural urban renewal process cited by the resolution, affected taxing entities may appoint representatives to the March 24 consultation and may submit written recommendations on the proposed division of revenue; the County Auditor (or her delegate) will respond in writing as provided by law. Following the consultation, the Board will receive public comment at the April 13 hearing before any decision to adopt the Amendment.
Votes at a glance: at the March 9 meeting the Board also recorded several other unanimous actions. The supervisors approved FM-C002(84)--55-02 (county pavement marking project), approved a Wellmark health insurance renewal presented by Jayne Templeton and Tysen Christensen (0% increase), authorized the county to participate in the Remnant Defendants’ Opioids Settlement Agreement, and permitted Globe Life Family Heritage to meet with employees. All those motions passed with all present supervisors voting aye.
What to watch: the consultation on March 24 and the April 13 public hearing are the immediate procedural steps. Copies of the proposed Amendment No. 2, including Exhibits A–C and the detailed project and cost lists, are available for inspection in the Auditor’s office.
The Board adjourned at 9:45 a.m.