Seward County Commission enters 45-minute executive session over Thresher Wind Project review

A majority of the Seward County Commission voted to enter an executive session to receive attorney-client legal consultation regarding the Thresher Wind Project CPU proposal identified in the transcript as "CU 20 20 five-two." The motion, recorded by the Chair as moved by Commissioner Metland and seconded by Commissioner Vasquez, passed 3 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 absent.

"I move for the County Commission to enter into executive session, during which session no binding action will occur for 45 minutes," the commissioner who moved the motion said, specifying the consultation would be under a cited Kansas statute. The mover named the county attorney Trish Voth and county administration staff April Warden, Brock Feiner and Mark Thompson as participants; later corrections in the record added Mark Johnson, Steve Linehan and Tanner Yost of Kirkham Michael to the attendee list.

One commissioner asked that the minutes reflect their opposition "is because we're including someone who has been referred to the county attorney for an opinion as to whether he can be present in executive sessions," noting concern about that person's inclusion. The record also reflects a statement that a legal opinion on that attendance question exists. The Chair stated the commission would resume the open meeting after 45 minutes, at 05:20.

The executive session was convened for privileged legal consultation; the commission did not take any binding action on the public record during the recorded portion of the meeting.