The Henry County Commission met on Tuesday November 19th, 2024 pursuant to adjournment at the courthouse in Clinton, Missouri.
Those members present were: Jim Stone – Presiding Commissioner
Rick Fosnow-North District Commissioner
Dale Lawler – South District Commissioner
Rick Watson – County Clerk
At 9:00 a.m. Commissioner Stone brought the meeting to order.
The minutes from the Thursday, November 14, 2024 meeting were read; Commissioner Lawler made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Fosnow seconded the motion, motion carried.
Expenditures from the following were approved to be paid:
Administrating Handling Cost Fund Emergency Management Tri-County Child Support
Prosecuting Attorney Training Fund Prosecuting Attorney November Elections
Pete Endres, Oliver Chag, of Ranger Power, and Mark Brady, representing Ranger Power, Ivan Schraeder, representing the county, attended the meeting.
The group discussed the Decommissioning Agreement. After discussion, Commissioner Fosnow made a motion to sign the Decommissioning Agreement. Commissioner Lawler seconded the motion. The motion passed with a roll call vote of Lawler – yes, Fosnow – yes, and Stone – yes.
The group discussed the 10:00 public hearing.
At 9:20 the Commission recessed to travel to the Benson Center to conduct the Chapter 100 Public Hearing.
The Commission reconvened at 10:00 at the Benson Center to conduct the Chapter 100 Public Hearing.
Commissioner Stone brought the public hearing to order. He stated that there was a quorum present. He then introduced himself, the other Commissioners, and Sarah Granath, of Gilmore and Bell.
Sarah began the discussion of the Chapter 100 abatement process. She shared of the description of the project, including 6000 acres that have been leased for development, a maintenance location, as well as an electric transfer station. She described Beavertail’s request for an abatement of taxes for certainty of costs associated with property taxes. She commented that real property does not come off the tax rolls. She continued by sharing that the Chapter 100 abatement is a 25-year abatement.
Sarah stated that the taxing entities, within the project, will receive a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) $2750.00 per megawatt annually, at a 2.5% annual escalator. In addition, the county will receive $250.00 per megawatt annually, with the same 2.5% annual escalator. She shared that the PILOT of $1.1M is based on the 400-megawatt name plate of the solar farm.
Sarah explained that the Chapter 100 amounts to an abatement of 30%. She shared that without the plan the taxes would be $55M, and with the plan amounts to $40M. Sarah shared that the Cost Benefit Analysis is on the county website. She gave an example of the Davis School District receiving a total of $32M on top of the regular personal property taxes.
Clerk Rick read a form letter signed by 36 individuals in support of adopting the Chapter 100 Agreement. Those that signed the form letter were:
Jamie Matteson Michael Matteson Amy Zenhder (?) Jeffery Nold Alvin Winkler
Pam Winkler Michael Moore Lonny Bramell Kim Bramell Leo Huff
Kent Schussler Paula Schussler Peggy Powell Tim Powell Stanley Nold
Keith Schussler Paul Nold James Lawson Joy Lawson Robert Wilson
Kurt Gretzinger Randy Zenhder Alan Jo Rotert Nathan Gretzinger Donald Waddell
Troy Wilson Mary Waddell Beth Wilson Beth Wilson Michael Kidwiler
Stacey Kidwiler Matt Walden Garrett Hilte Lewis Thomas Matt Kidwiler
+ 1 unreadable signature
Public comment in opposition to the Chapter 100 abatement was made by the following:
Michael Rosiere Chase Larson Kim Branson Ed Seidel Sebring White
Chuck Thomas Denise Welsh Bruce Tarleton Bailey Carter Wes Carter
Jeffery Hart Mark Larson Jerod Crump Eileen Parks Amanda Cothern
Cathy Fluegel Richard Shields Cassie Cook Greg Westhusing
John Hilty’s comments were opposed to the abatement, but shared support of the PILOT payments.
The following declined to comment:
Gavin Lowe Jason Edwards Vickie Westhusing
*During Richard Shields’ public comment, he questioned the validity of the notice for the public hearing, citing RSMo 100.059. He requested this comment be in the record.
At 11:27 the Commission recessed the public hearing to travel back to their office at the courthouse.
The Commission reconvened at 11:55, in their office at the courthouse.
Commissioner Lawler made a motion to adopt the Chapter 100 resolution for which the public hearing was held and authorize the Presiding Commissioner to execute all proper documents as they are presented. Commissioner Fosnow seconded the motion. The motion passed with a roll call vote of Lawler – yes, Fosnow – yes, and Stone – yes.
At 11:58 Commissioner Lawler made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Commissioner Fosnow seconded the motion, motion carried with a roll call vote of Lawler – yes, Fosnow – yes, and Stone – yes.
