MINUTES

Village of St. Helena Town Board Meeting and Hearings

June 21, 2018

Present were Mayor Robert Barnhill, Mayor Pro Tem Judy Katalinic, William Hunter, Margaret Brinzey, Kaye Knowles, Louis Hesse, Nathaniel Coleman, and Kim Rivenbark. Absent was Nancy Jones.

There were 24 others present including a court stenographer (Tamara Gschwanbtorer).

Mayor Barnhill opened the meeting with introductions. He then read the public notices from the newspaper about the public hearings as follows:

Consideration of an application for a text change amendments to section 4-10, 10-1,

20-4 and 20-5 of the Unified Development Ordinance.

Consideration of a text change amendment updating the Flood Damage Prevention

Ordinance for the Village of St. Helena.

Consideration of an application for text change amendment to Article 10 to remove

Solar Farms as a permitted use in the Unified Development Ordinance.

Annual 2018-19 fiscal year budget.

Kim Rivenbark read explanations of the public hearings.

Representing Burgaw Solar from GreenGo was Brad Risinger. He introduced others from GreenGo. He went into detail about the solar farm.

A solar panel was on display, and it was explained saying panels could be recycled.

Judy Katalinic asked if the panels were 100 per cent recyclable. She was told between 92-96 per cent.

Margaret Brinzey asked about heat retention. It was explained that diverted heat goes into concrete below.

Daniel Jordan talked in favor of the solar farm.

Judy Katalinic asked about any of their completed projects. They have no completed projects.

Charles White talked about his land next to the Burgaw Solar project. He was concerned about homes being close to the project.

William Hunter felt that there were worst things than a solar farm.

Judy Katalinic suggested putting the substation on St. Helena’s side.

The tax rate for the Village of St. Helena is five cents. The Village pays a rate of nine cents for fire protection.

On motion by Judy Katalinic and seconded by Kaye Knowles, the hearings were adjourned unanimously.

Mayor Barnhill called for a recess before beginning the regular meeting.

Mayor Barnhill called the regular meeting to order.

On motion by Judy Katalinic and seconded by William Hunter, the minutes of May 17, 2018 were approved unanimously.

On motion of William Hunter and seconded by Kaye Knowles, the financial report was approved unanimously.

Kim Rivenbark suggested a public hearing on an application for a text change amendment to Article 5- Board of Adjustment and Section 7.5-Variances of the St. Helena’s U.D.O.

On motion by William Hunter and seconded by Judy Katalinic, it was unanimous to schedule a public hearing for the change amendment for the Board of Adjustment.

On motion by William Hunter and seconded by Judy Katalinc, the consideration of an application for text change amendments for the U.D.O. was approved unanimously.

On motion by William Hunter and seconded by Judy Katalinic, The Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance was approved unanimously.

Margaret Brinzey said she thinks that we should allow the solar farm on the Mclean property because the council approved it last year but she doesn’t want any more solar farms in St. Helena.

William Hunter made a motion to allow a solar farm on the Mclean property. Judy Katalinic seconded it.

William Hunter made a motion to keep solar farms in St. Helena. It died due to a lack of second. Since the U.D.O. had solar farms already listed as a permitted use in I-1, the motion was not needed.

Mayor Barnhill asked if anyone was interested in reviewing the 2018-2019 proposed budget for the Village of St. Helena. No one responded.

On motion by William Hunter and seconded by Judy Katalinic, the 2018-2019 budget was unanimously approved.

Bobbi Bell came before the board with a request to close roads on Gomery property and adjoining properties. A public hearing will need to be scheduled. Attorney Coleman is to check into this.

A public hearing was scheduled for the July meeting for consideration of an application for a text change amendment to Article 5-Board of Adjustment and section 7-5 – Variances of the St. Helena Unified Development Ordinance.

Mayor Barnhill invited everyone to look at pictures of the new town hall.

On motion by Judy Katalinic and seconded by Kaye Knowles, the meeting was adjourned unanimously.