(PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
PROJECT OPPOSITION … Jeff Canfield speaks during the Fulton County Commissioner meeting held on January 14th.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Fulton County Commissioners held two meetings this past week, with the first taking place on Tuesday, January 14th and the second taking place on Thursday, January 16th.
Both meetings began at 9:00 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. During each of these meetings, commissioners moved to approve minutes from each of the prior meetings, as well as the current meeting’s agenda and payment of the bills.
The following items were either reviewed by commissioners or passed by resolution during these meetings.
January 14th
-Review Fulton County Investment Report for December 2024
-Resolution 2025-030 Approve Appropriations Requests for Various Departments.
-Resolution 2025-031 Accept Recommendation of Loss Control Coordinator for Workers Compensation Claim.
-Resolution 2025-032 Approve Waiver of ALS Charges.
-Resolution 2025-033 Approve Oversight of Contract 2025-7 with Ohio Teaching Family Association on Behalf of JFS.
-Resolution 2025-034 Approve Oversight of Contract 2025-8 with Lutheran Homes Society on Behalf of JFS.
-Resolution 2025-035 Enter Into Contract 2025-9 with Gov OS on Behalf of Recorder.
-Resolution 2025-036 Approve Oversight of Amendment #2 to Contract 2023-36 with Creative Media Solutions on Behalf of JFS.
-Resolution 2025-037 Approve Oversight of Amendment #2 to Contract 2024-22 with NOCAC on Behalf of JFS.
-Resolution 2025-038 Approve Oversight of Amendment #1 to Contract 2024-27 with NOCAC.
-Resolution 2025-039 Approve Oversight of Amendment #2 to Contract 2023-21 with K&P Medical Transport.
-Resolution 2025-040 Approve Oversight of Amendment #2 to Contract 2023-11 with NOCAC on Behalf of JFS.
-Resolution 2025-041 Approve Purchase Orders and Travel Requests.
January 16th
-Resolution 2025-044 Approve Appropriations Requests for Various Departments.
-Resolution 2025-045 Declare It Necessary to Transfer Funds and Authorize Submission to Tax Commissioner.
-Resolution 2025-046 Enter Into 2025 Wellness Grant Agreement with CEBCO.
-Resolution 2025-047 Approve Legal, Plans and Authorize Ad for 2025 Crack Seal Program.
-Resolution 2025-048 Approve Legal, Plans and Authorize Ad for Bridge 20F.1 and Bridge A4-1.3 Rehabilitation.
-Resolution 2025-050 Authorize Board President to Execute FY 2025 Airport Improvement Program Grant Pre- Application.
-Resolution 2025-051 Approve Purchase Orders and Travel Requests.
Following the approval of items during the January 14th meeting, commissioners heard from Les Seiler, Andrea Christenson, and Jeff Canfield regarding their opposition to the proposed Ritter Station Solar Project.
Les Seiler spoke first and stated that he is a landowner and an advocate for sustainable farm practices.
Seiler voiced his concerns regarding the new large scale solar project in Gorham Township, especially due to the fact that there is already an 800 acre large scale solar field in the township. This new project will see an additional 1,700 acres of farmland converted into a solar field.
Seiler explained that, when you add the two projects up, that would mean close to 10% of all the land in Gorham Township would be solar fields.
Due to this, the concerns he raised included subsurface drainage issues, the useability of the farmland after the project has been completed, the effect it will have on the local deer and wildlife populations and movements, and what the removal of the land from agriculture use will do to local businesses.
According to Seiler, he has contacted a few people that work with such companies around the county, one being Gerald Grain.
He explained that this representative had told him that the company had filled three trains in seven days and were fairly proud of that.
Additionally, the company had received 1.6 million bushels of soybeans in a drought year, which has been a decent number.
Seiler reiterated that the agriculture brought into these companies, even from outside the county, help to provide jobs in those fields, including in trucking. Seiler closed with a question. Are we going to be an Ag County or a Solar County?
Following Seiler, came Andrea Christenson. She began her testimony by bringing up a family farm that is situated near her.
This farm was created as an Agri-Tourist business and hosts people through much of the year, including field trips, with the goal of teaching people about agriculture.
According to Christenson, this tourist spot that relies on agriculture would be surrounded by the solar field.
She then moved onto her next point, which involved petitions that the group had obtained.
According to Christenson, over 440 signatures had been obtained as of that Sunday, with the total number being at or close to 500 by the time the meeting began. The list of signatures was provided to the commissioners.
It was then that Jeff Canfield spoke, and began his testimony by stating his belief that the company attempting to put in the solar field was trying to take the community’s history and use it to suit the project.
He explained that, in his belief, by calling the project the Ritter Station project, the company was taking the name of an old train station from the area, therefore using the name to try and put forward that they are a part of the community.
Canfield also spoke to commissioners regarding policies and more recent laws that had been passed, including Ohio Senate Bill 52 which revised laws governing wind farms and solar facilities in the state.
He also spoke about personal aspects of what will take place if the project moves forward. One such example given is of a farmer that will lose 43% of the land he currently contracts to farm on.
In addition to the personal aspect of this project, Canfield spoke about the other businesses in the county that could be affected, including grain elevators, chemical companies, fertilizer companies, seed companies, and equipment companies.
He built on this further by stating that this project is currently only taking place in Gorham Township, but he has heard of other larger projects being looked at throughout the rest of the county.
Lastly, Canfield discussed property owner rights and promised money. He explained that he has had conversations with decision makers and the issue of landowner property rights had come up.
Specifically, the belief that the government should not be telling people what to do with their land. To that, Canfield stated landowners are already told what they can and cannot do with their land through zoning and other means.
As for the promised money, Canfield stated the money that has been cited as coming in with this project has only been promised, not guaranteed.
He went into this further by bringing up the pipeline and fish farm in Williams County as examples of times when money has been promised but not received.
At this time, the conversation shifted to allow questions from the Commissioners. From the beginning, Commissioner Jeff Rupp explained that the purpose of the meeting was not to make a decision one way or the other, but to listen to the concerns brought up by those speaking.
Commissioner Jon Rupp spoke first and stated his belief that this project was grandfathered in before SB 52, and that the same thing had happened to the first project.
This was later challenged by Canfield when he stated, “This project does come under Senate Bill 52”. Jon Rupp then replied with “no”.
Canfield continued with, “Yes it does. The only thing that was different from this to the first one was, the first one was completely approved before Senate Bill was passed.”
“This one, it was only one application that was done prior to October 11th of 23’ on this one. So, this one does come under 52.”
Commissioner Jon Rupp then stated, “I don’t have the lawyers to argue that with the Power Citing Board because I’ve talked to them, and they have told me this and I’m not going to argue with them.”
Following that statement, Canfield stated the commissioners cannot flat out stop the process, but it has to follow the track and go to the end now.
To that, Jon Rupp stated he agreed. Canfield also stated that the commissioners do have a say in this, to which Jon Rupp stated, “Oh, absolutely.”
Following that part of the questioning, Commissioner Joe Short asked Solar Field Company (Repsol) representative Zach Hughes a few questions.
These questions revolved around both the company’s solvency, what happens to the contracts if it was to get sold off, and how the cleanup is paid for in the future.
Hughes explained that, in regard to the cleanup and land reclamation, before construction begins a bond will be placed with the State of Ohio.
This bond will cover the cost of the clean-up and will be reassessed every five years to ensure things like inflation driven cost increases are taken care of.
As for if the company is sold, or the company was to go bankrupt, it was stated that the new company would honor the agreements when purchased.
If the new company does not honor the agreement or has issues with making the PILOT payments, the recourse available would include going to court since all of the agreements made would be in writing.
Shortly after, discussion for the matter ended and the meeting was adjourned.
