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Highland City Council approves annexation, rezoning and solar-farm permit; OKs property sale and substation work
Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Highland City Council approved the annexation and rezoning of land for a proposed solar energy farm, granted a special-use permit to Highland Solar 2, LLC, approved a property sale to Family Bible Church, authorized a contractor for substation breaker painting ($36,175), and voted to move meetings to City Hall.
The Highland City Council on Monday approved a bundle of land‑use actions tied to a proposed solar energy farm and cleared several routine items, including a property sale and a procurement for substation maintenance.
Mayor Kevin Hemann opened the Nov. 18 regular session at the Highland Area Senior Center. Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Napper were present; Councilwoman Bellm was noted as absent.
Most of the meeting’s substantive action centered on property owned by Grandview Farm Limited Partnership. The council approved a resolution to annex the property (motion by Councilman Frey, second by Councilwoman Sloan) and later passed an ordinance rezoning one parcel (PIN 01-1-24-06-00-000-027.001) from R‑1‑C single‑family residential to I (industrial). The council also approved a special‑use permit allowing a solar energy farm on that parcel; the permit was filed by Highland Solar 2, LLC on behalf of Grandview Farm Limited Partnership. The council recorded roll‑call votes of Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Napper voting aye on the rezoning and the solar permit; the annexation agreement vote additionally recorded Mayor Hemann as voting aye.
The council approved a separate land‑use item tied to a short‑term rental at 405 Walnut St. (PIN 02-2-18-32-19-401-003), adopting a separate statement of findings of fact and passing the ordinance to grant the special‑use permit to David and Meghan Ziegler.
On the consent and business side, the council approved Bill #24-111/Ordinance #3357 to sell city‑owned surplus real estate to Family Bible Church (motion by Councilman Frey; second by Councilwoman Sloan). The council also approved Bill #24-112/Resolution #24-11-3140 to waive customary bidding procedures and issue a purchase order to New‑Hart Services, Inc. for painting Westside substation breakers. Director Dan Cook said the vendor will sand the housings and apply a three‑coat process “rather than replacing the breakers,” and described the work as a cost‑effective way to extend equipment life. Councilwoman Sloan recorded the cost at $36,175.00.
The meeting also included routine approvals of the Nov. 4 minutes and a vote to change the location of future council meetings to City Hall at 1115 Broadway beginning in December 2024.
Votes at a glance Bill #/Type — Short description — Mover/Seconder — Tally — Outcome • Bill #24-111 / Ordinance #3357 — Sale of surplus real estate to Family Bible Church — Frey / Sloan — Sloan, Frey, Napper voted aye; Mayor Hemann voted aye — Approved • Bill #24-112 / Resolution #24-11-3140 — Purchase order to New‑Hart Services, Inc. for substation breaker painting ($36,175.00) — Sloan / Napper — Sloan, Frey, Napper voted aye; Mayor Hemann voted aye — Approved • Bill #24-113 / Resolution #24-11-3141 — Findings of fact for special-use at 405 Walnut St. — Frey / Sloan — Sloan, Frey, Napper voted aye — Approved • Bill #24-114 / Ordinance #3358 — Special-use permit to David and Meghan Ziegler for short-term rental at 405 Walnut St. — Sloan / Napper — Sloan, Frey, Napper voted aye — Approved • Bill #24-115 / Resolution #24-11-3142 — Annexation agreement with Dr. William K. Drake / Grandview Farm Limited Partnership — Frey / Sloan — Sloan, Frey, Napper voted aye; Mayor Hemann voted aye — Approved • Bill #24-116 / Ordinance #3359 — Annexing territory owned by Dr. William K. Drake (specified PINs) — Sloan / Frey — Sloan, Frey, Napper voted aye — Approved • Bill #24-117 / Ordinance #3360 — Rezoning PIN 01-1-24-06-00-000-027.001 from R-1-C to I (Industrial) — Frey / Napper — Sloan, Frey, Napper voted aye — Approved • Bill #24-118 / Resolution #24-11-3143 — Findings of fact for special-use to allow solar energy farm at PIN 01-1-24-06-00-000-027.001 — Sloan / Frey — Sloan, Frey, Napper voted aye — Approved • Bill #24-119 / Ordinance #3361 — Special-use permit to Highland Solar 2, LLC for a solar energy farm at PIN 01-1-24-06-00-000-027.001 — Frey / Sloan — Sloan, Frey, Napper voted aye — Approved
What’s next The council approved the measures during the Nov. 18 session; no further public hearing testimony was recorded that night. The annexation, rezoning and special‑use approvals put the listed parcels under Highland jurisdiction and allow the project proponent to pursue the permitted solar installation subject to the terms of the ordinances and conditions recorded in the council’s actions.
