Permits approved for Walnut Ridge
PRINCETON — Tuesday was, no doubt, a good day for the Walnut Ridge wind farm developers. In a special meeting Tuesday night, the Bureau County Board approved conditional use permits for 143 turbines, four meteorological towers and three substations for the proposed Walnut Ridge wind farm in northern Bureau County.
Board members in attendance were unanimous in their approval of the conditional use permits. Board members Joe Bassetti, Tom Giordano, Lisa Mangrich, Rob Pozzi, Pete Swanson and Joe Vasquez were absent.
Prior to approving the permits, the board had to first approve the county’s road agreement with the Walnut Ridge developers.
Ottawa attorney Sheryl Kuzma, representing the county in the negotiations, said the 26-page agreement was the result of extensive input from Bureau County Engineer John Gross and the road commissioners from Bureau Township, Greenville, Manlius, Ohio and Walnut townships, all of which will be affected by the additional Walnut Ridge traffic.
“This is a solid agreement, and I recommend it without hesitation,” Kuzma said.
As required by the road agreement, Kuzma said a Transportation Impact Analysis study must be completed, prior to construction of Walnut Ridge, by an independent engineering firm, with input from Gross. The study will determine various specifics of the project, including the types/materials of the roads affected, how many additional trips/loads are expected over those roads, and how heavy those additional loads will be.
The study will also identify culverts and bridges affected by the construction work and will provide anticipated repair costs for those roads, culverts and bridges, Kuzma said. The county will be reimbursed for the cost of the study by Walnut Ridge, she said.
In addition to the Transportation Impact Analysis, the road agreement also addresses the affect of the Walnut Ridge project on regular traffic in that area, Kuzma
“One of the primary goals of the road agreement is to minimize adverse affects of the construction traffic on the normal, agricultural traffic,” Kuzma said. “The road agreement sets a priority of traffic, with that priority given first and foremost to emergency response vehicles, then to rural mail delivery, schools buses and transportation of agriculture commodities and implements.”
The road agreement obligates the developers to make immediate repairs to roads, such as filling potholes and cracks, and to alert the public of any hazards through the posting of signs, etc., Kuzma said. Repairs must be up to standards set by the Illinois Department of Transportation and must be approved by Gross.
The county engineer does have the option of closing down roads if needed, Kuzma said. The county also has the option of fining the developers $500 per occurrence for violations.
Bureau County Board President Marc Wilt expressed his concerns about the impact of the Walnut Ridge project on the affected roads during the weight posted spring season, specifically for area school buses. As a school bus driver, he knows how heavy trucks can be destructive to the roads, he said.
Gross said the agreement allows only time-sensitive deliveries, like turbine blades and tower components, during the weight posted season.
Kuzma also reviewed Walnut Ridge’s letter of credit, which guarantees the developers will have the finances to meet the repair/road agreements. That letter of credit will be adjusted every six months to reflect current costs, she said.
The board approved the road agreement on a 18 to 1 vote, with Wilt casting the only no vote. (Maynard was not yet present for the vote.)
The developers hope to begin construction next spring.
