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Residents, commissioners press county after wide-load delivery blocked roadway at solar site
Summary
Residents and commissioners criticized a contractor for leaving a state-permitted wide load on a county road without notifying dispatch, and asked the county attorney to review whether a solar project's special-exception approval has expired.
Commissioners and residents pressed county staff on Jan. 20 after a state-permitted delivery to a proposed solar site remained on a county road longer than planned, leaving the roadway blocked and, according to residents, creating a public-safety risk.
Jeff Leinsky asked county staff to have Mr. Lake explain the incident. Lake said the shipment was a state-permitted wide load but that Howard County's road-use agreement requires a company to notify county dispatch if a road will be closed for an hour or more. He said the lift was expected to take about 30 minutes but weather delayed the work and the load remained on the road for more than an hour; the company did not notify dispatch.
"They did have it on the road for more than the hour time period. They did not call dispatch," Lake said. He told commissioners he had discussed the incident with the contractor (identified in the meeting as Blatner) and said the county would work to ensure it does not recur.
Residents who live near the site said the county must do more than admonish the contractor. "They're breaking your rules day in and day out," said Brad Sing of Eastern County, who urged daily monitoring of the project and stronger enforcement. Another speaker who identified himself as a local volunteer firefighter said blocking a road without notice could prevent emergency vehicles from reaching an incident.
Commissioners acknowledged the safety concern and said consequences could be imposed if the violation happens again. They also noted the county has a company paid to monitor the project but that staff cannot be physically present every day.
Public comment at the meeting also raised a separate but related procedural issue: a speaker said a second special exception for the solar project was approved with an 18-month extension, but that more than 30 months have passed without required drainage approvals or plan commission action. The speaker asked who would pursue withdrawing or enforcing the special exception.
Commissioners asked Mr. Wilson, the county attorney, to review the special-exception timeline and provide legal guidance "as soon as possible." The board did not take formal enforcement action at the meeting; Mr. Lake said he had spoken to the contractor and would monitor compliance going forward.
