Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solar Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dodge County attorney warns solar rules must balance property rights and safety; manager to measure noise
Summary
At the May 5 meeting, county attorney Ron Daniels cautioned that a proposed solar ordinance must not unduly restrict landowner property rights while allowing for fire-safety limits; County Manager Conner Bearden said he will measure decibel levels at nearby solar farms and report back.
At its May 5 meeting, the Dodge County Board of Commissioners discussed language in a proposed solar ordinance that would limit how close inverters could be placed to dwellings. Attorney Ron Daniels briefed the board, saying the county’s ordinance could not be too prohibitive on landowner property rights while noting fire-protection concerns could justify some limits.
Daniels told the board the county must balance private property rights with public-safety considerations when drafting distance and equipment-placement rules. Manager Conner Bearden said the county will gather more information: he plans to use a sound meter to measure decibel levels at nearby solar farms and return with that data to inform any ordinance language.
The discussion produced no formal action; the item remains under consideration and staff will report back with the noise measurements and any recommended ordinance language.
