Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
At the February 3 commission meeting, the seats at the Houston County Courthouse were filled with Houston County residents anxiously waiting to share their opinions on building commercial solar fields in Houston County.
The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners in attendance included Cindy Wright, Eric Johnson, Kurt Zehnder, Bob Schuldt and Chairman Greg Myhre.
The meeting agenda, minutes of the January 27 regular meeting, and the amended minutes from the January 20 commission meeting were all approved.
Public Comments
County Coordinator Brent Parker outlined the guidelines for public comment, emphasizing that they “help maintain order, ensure efficiency, and allow for maximum public participation.”
Most of the comments concerned the building of commercial solar fields on prime agricultural land, spoiling the county’s scenic landscape, and the county’s comprehensive plan. There were also comments regarding the Minnesota deer-hunting rifle law and the MariBell Transmission project.
Speakers referred to the county’s comprehensive plan, updated in 2023, and emphasized that it is important to follow it, as it serves as the county’s guiding principle. The county’s zoning ordinances are created in accordance with the county’s comprehensive plan.
Franklin Hahn, who serves on the Houston County Zoning and Planning Commission, explained after the roll-call vote on the CUP application that the commission follows three things: the comprehensive plan, the shoreline, and the zoning ordinance. He emphasized that it is important to be “consistent” and “stick to the rules.”
Appointments
At 9:05 a.m., the board closed the regular meeting and opened the public hearing to hear from their constituents regarding the positions of auditor/treasurer and recorder. The positions are currently elected positions, and the county is considering changing them to appointed positions. The board closed the public hearing and returned to the regular meeting at 9:16 a.m.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda was unanimously approved, including changing Assistant County Attorney Jessica Kraus’s employment status from probationary to regular, effective February 13.
Action Items
The Planning Commission recommended that the Board of Commissioners deny the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for OneEnergy Development LLC on behalf of AC4 Farms LLC. If approved, the permit would allow the applicant to construct a 5MW ground-mounted solar commercial project in an Agricultural Protection District in Caledonia Township. A motion by Commissioner Johnson was made to deny the CUP request as recommended by the Planning Commission. Commissioner Wright seconded the motion. The vote, by roll call, was unanimous.
There were no questions for Treasurer Carol Lapham regarding the payments. The board unanimously approved paying the bills.
Discussion Items
After sharing their meeting schedules with their colleagues, the commissioners discussed the comprehensive plan and whether it should be updated. Commissioner Johnson explained that the plan was updated in 2023 after approximately 20 years of it just being renewed. The board questioned whether it was too long to wait 10 years before updating it or if it should be done in five years. Commissioner Wright said that it would be beneficial for the board to look at some major things that are just around the corner before an application is submitted such as data centers and battery storage and possibly amending the comprehensive plan.
County Coordinator Brent Parker announced that two public hearings are scheduled on the use of rifles for deer hunting in Houston County. Both will take place in the basement of the Houston County Criminal Justice Center, Caledonia.
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