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Weekly Blast: The Board held its monthly meeting on Wednesday. We’re trying a different agenda format to improve efficiency and shorten meeting times. A “consent agenda” allows usual items like minutes, committee and officer reports, financial reports, and invoices to be reviewed in advance of the meeting. When the meeting begins a board member can request that any item from the list be moved to the “regular” agenda for discussion and consideration. In this way any item where concerns or questions exist are scrutinized. Anything that remains on the consent agenda is approved by unanimous consent in its entirety. On Wednesday it seemed to work well, however it’s new so we’ll see how it goes. One item of interest (not on the consent agenda) was a Resolution regarding the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Plan prepared by the Wisconsin Rapids School District. The District includes Grant Elementary School right here in the Town of Grant. Recall some months ago we had an informational meeting for residents in the Mertz Subdivision just south of Grant Elementary. The residents did not want sidewalks for bike or pedestrians installed whenever the roads are reconstructed. Originally the Town included this option in two grants submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). Neither were funded, nor were two recent ones WITHOUT sidewalks included. In short, the SRTS Plan and the Resolution signed do not include any sidewalks within the Subdivision; only a short, cemented area at the corner of 85th/CTH WW at the request of the Portage County Highway Department. This, in hopes of a future enhanced crosswalk across the highway. This Resolution may be submitted with any future funding requests to reconstruct the roads within the Subdivision. However, if you have a million dollars sitting around, we’d be happy to start construction ASAP - ha! Have a safe weekend and be careful in the expected heatwave, Sharon

Posted on by ana

Weekly Blast!

Recently I completed a seminar series regarding utility solar and wind projects and their real or potential impacts on local communities. As you probably know by now, local municipalities (towns/villages/cities) have very little control over large-scale utility projects. In the Town of Grant’s experience that meant a utility solar project 100 megawatts and larger. The control and decision regarding both Portage Solar (in construction now) and Vista Sands Solar (construction slated mid 2027) lies solely with the three-member board of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. The T. Grant, along with the Town of Plover have more experience in the utility solar arena than many of the seminar participants. Some never heard of it, some were in the middle of it, and others were “knee-deep” in it like us. T. Plover Chairman Jim Garbe and I recently met with newly elected Portage County Executive Eric Olson to apprise him of our Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) with our two solar projects, and the responsibility that Portage County has to help us uphold their contents. There are decades ahead to consider and millions of dollars that the county will receive because of these projects. Chair Garbe already noted potential breaches of the JDA by Portage Solar. These are legal contracts that must be upheld as they represent the only mechanisms we have to keep the projects protective of our respective municipalities.

 

If you are a landowner that has a lease with a solar company or is considering one there is information below of an upcoming seminar that might be of interest to you. It is hosted by UW–Madison Division of Extension. The work is funded by an award from the US Department of Energy and is part of a broader project to help Wisconsin communities plan for and respond to changes in the energy landscape. For more information about the project see the RESET website (go.wisc.edu/reset). Please note that this is educational content only, not legal advice. Consult legal counsel for regulatory decisions.

 

Navigating Solar Leases for Wisconsin Landowners (Register)
July 10 | 12–1 pm (Zoom)

Designed for farmers and rural landowners, this webinar covers:

  • Key solar lease terms and payment structures
  • Evaluating and negotiating offers
  • Tools to compare proposals and protect your interests

Have a good weekend, Sharon