Shawnee County schedules special meeting to consider solar energy conversion regulations

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously March 12 to schedule a special April meeting to consider countywide solar energy conversion system regulations recommended by the Planning Commission.

Planning staff had forwarded the regulations to the Board after the Planning Commission recommended them at its Feb. 9 meeting. The Board’s clerk read a notice that the regulations would be moved up on the calendar and that the Board may take action — including passage and adoption — at the special session. Chair (name not stated in the record) moved to set the special meeting and the motion carried 3–0.

County staff said the item was being moved forward to allow commissioners more time to review and to hold a dedicated session for public comment and deliberation. The clerk noted the scheduling change would replace or reset a previously planned April work session to allow consideration of the regulations.

No substantive debate occurred on the floor about the content of the draft regulations during the March 12 meeting; commissioners and staff treated the agenda change as a procedural step to ensure the Board has a full opportunity to consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation. The Board did not take final action on the regulations at the March 12 meeting. The special meeting date was discussed during the meeting; commissioners referred to April calendar dates while setting the session and instructed staff to publish formal notice.