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Resident raises decommissioning and runoff concerns after Tallgrass solar CUP approval
Summary
At the July 7 Ellis County commission meeting, resident Mike Worth urged commissioners to require completed decommissioning and stormwater plans before approving Tallgrass's conditional use permit, saying state floodplain staff had not been informed and that runoff could threaten city wells.
Mike Worth, who identified himself as an Ellis County resident, told the commission he was alarmed the Tallgrass solar conditional use permit (CUP) moved forward before decommissioning, environmental impact and stormwater containment plans were finalized. "Who from the state level approved this?" Worth asked, saying local floodplain official Leonard Bristow had not been informed and warning that runoff from the project could flow to nearby city wells.
Commissioners and county staff responded that certain floodplain and engineering approvals fall under state and federal jurisdiction and that the county's conditional use process includes decommissioning and bonding conditions. Darren Myers, the county administrator, told Worth the CUP document includes a decommissioning bond and other benchmarks: "During our conditional use process, we've outlined a lot of different materials, and they have to have a bond in place, for decommissioning, which is more or less insurance." Staff also pointed the public to the June 2 commission packet, where the full CUP documents and conditions are available for review.
The exchange highlighted competing community concerns: residents who want stronger local oversight of site cleanup and runoff controls, versus commissioners who emphasized limits of county authority and reliance on state and federal engineering and floodplain standards. Commissioners said the CUP contains conditions that could be revoked if the company fails to supply required plans or bonds.
