The room was packed Monday evening at the Pulaski County Highway Department Garage during the Pulaski County Council's public hearing regarding the Economic Revitalization Area request for purposes of tax abatement.
The hearing itself lasted over two hours and followed a joint meeting with Pulaski County Commissioners and County Council members where a resolution was considered by the commissioners which would authorize them to execute the Economic Development Agreement with County Attorney Kevin Tankersley.
The agreement has yet to be finalized, but will address the cost benefits of business in Pulaski County, the return on investments, and what advantages their development will bring financially through the county.
The resolution was approved by Commission President Chuck Mellon and Commissioner Mike McClure.
Local farmers, residents and many members of the group 'Pulaski County Against Solar,' voiced their concerns about the solar farm affecting the small community. Out of the almost two dozen people speaking, only four were in approval of the project.
The solar project will include the installation of panels on several thousand acres of agricultural land in Rich Grove, Jefferson, Franklin, Monroe and Beaver Townships in Pulaski County, with a $1 billion investment. The utility property abatement would be for 20 years which would result in an estimated property tax savings of over $40 million, but Mammoth Solar would provide $34.6 million in minimum Economic Development payments to the county over a 20-year period.
One negative impact pointed out during the meeting by Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer was that the project could cause a decline in jobs and wages in the county.
Local resident and farmer Chris Brucker was among those who spoke during the hearing.
Others like resident Edward Cottinger were short, but to the point.
The Pulaski County Council ended the evening with a normally scheduled council meeting, where members agreed, by majority vote, to delay a decision on the Economic Revitalization Area resolution until their January 10 meeting. The delay was given for more time to process all of the financial information presented by Baker Tilly, the impact analysis conducted by Impact DataSource, LLC, and public comment given during the public hearing.
The council also unanimously voted to approve a resolution that moves a public hearing and final determination of an ERA designation for the Moss Creek Solar project to the next council meeting on January 10.
