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Commissioners hear of plans for solar farm, veterans' facility
McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners got a heads-up on two tech-based projects that could have a great impact on the county in coming years.
The more advanced of the two was a solar power installation northwest of McCook for which some property has already been purchased.
The other is still a concept that could help provide needed medical and mental health services for veterans via telemedicine and in-person visits.
In the public comment portion of the meeting, after introducing himself to the board, Jeff Cook-Coyle, chief project development officer, said his company, Premier Energy, was planning a 40-megawatt solar farm, with some power storage, northwest of McCook.
Some property has always been purchased for the project, which eventually will cover about 1,000 acres, and the company had no plans to take irrigated cropland out of production.
He said new legislation would help the solar farm to provide power to the Nebraska Public Power District — the intended customer — at a 30-40% lower cost, “which benefits everybody,” said Cook-Coyle, who said he would be in the area for the next few days.
It would also provide a minimum of $140,000 yearly income to the county, he told the commissioners.
An earlier plan to position the farm closer to McCook ran into opposition by neighboring landowners, he said, but little has arisen with the new site, which has the added benefit of being outside the City of McCook’s jurisdiction.
Asked about storage, Cook-Coyle said NPPD was open to new alternatives to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
He said the power would be sold wholesale to NPPD, which would then sell it at retail. In response to a question, he said any idea for a community solar farm would be up to NPPD.
Veterans Service Officer Mike Simmonds and Vicky Leibbrandt of his office outlined plans for creating an office in McCook where area veterans could obtain telemedicine and a full range of services in McCook rather than having to drive to other Nebraska cities.
A major role would be to provide access secure, private access to VA services to Furnas and Red Willow County veterans and their families through the ATLAS (Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations) system.
“It’s a wonderful concept, but a concept needs a price,” Commissioner Randy Dean told Simmonds.
Commissioners voted unanimously to direct Simmonds to collect information as to the size and cost of facilities that would be required, as well as possible funding available. The board agreed to issue letters of support when they are required.
Commissioners approved a bid of $248,244.01 for a new roof, windows and siding on the Ag Building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. The bid was submitted by Chipperfield Ag Erectors of McCook, the only bidder still in contention after all the details were finalized.
After Commissioner Cayla Richards questioned the details of bonus checks issued to employees following the fair, County Fair Director Jiles Bowman said he would work with the fair board to follow appropriate procedures for issuing such payments.
Bowman said the checks were issued at the direction of the fair board and had been for some time, but more specifics had begun being included at the direction of state auditors.
Use of COVID funds for county officials and employees has created controversy here and elsewhere, Chairman Earl McNutt noting that one county had used ARPA funding for $10,000 checks to county employees, only to run afoul of state auditors.
In other business, commissioners officially set 2022 levies and approved 2022 one- and six-year road plans. Because of the cost, a long-time plan for paving Road 719 from East 11 to U.S. Highway was removed from the six-year plan, and six bridge projects were approved on the one-year plan.
Jerry Berggren of Berggren Architects spoke with commissioners via telephone and agreed to provide an estimate for creating bid specifications for new windows in the courthouse.
The project will be funded with federal COVID relief ARPA funding.
Berggren said access to the original plans for the 1928 courthouse building would make the process easier, but Greg Holthus, building and grounds manager, said they were not available.
After an executive session, commissioners voted to offer the courthouse building and grounds position to one of the three remaining candidates. One of the four finalists withdrew his name from consideration.
Long-time building and grounds manager Holthus is retiring Nov. 1.