The Sunflower County Board of Supervisors handed down several decisions at a recent session and among them was a vote to sign off on individual endorsements requested by the Mississippi Public Works Commission regarding the 788-acre solar farm being constructed on 1,000 acres of land between Ruleville and Drew.
According to Sunflower County Economic Development Director Fred Washington, the Commission requested that a letter of support on his letterhead, using the Commission’s verbiage and signed by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Drew in addition to the county lawmakers, be submitted before the project moves forward.
Washington said the project will initially employ up to 75 people to build the plant, but will have less than 10 sustained positions.
President Glenn Donald asked about any radiation risks and Washington said he was not aware of any, but would have to research it. He explained that the farm would connect and feed an existing transformer system by ground power lines. Donald also asked if a public hearing would have to be conducted on the matter. Attorney Johnny McWilliams said since the owners of the project are not asking anything of the county, “You’re not legally required to have a hearing if you want to sign this letter,” he said.
McWilliams pointed out that the wording of the prepared letter states, “As an elected official in Sunflower County,” so, because of that the board members who are not comfortable with signing did not have to sign.
Donald also asked if there was need for the plant to be located a certain distance from a populated area.
He stressed that he was not against the project, but wanted to ask the questions he believes the citizens will ask.
Washington assured him there would be no overhead power lines because of the close proximity to the existing transformer.
McWilliams said his concern was related to the potential hazard the reflective panels would cause for the airplane pilots since the project is so close to the county airport, but was told the panels would be black and not pose a threat and that FAA would approve it.
In other business,
The county lawmakers also accepted Gardner Engineering’s bid to be the engineer of record on the new project to renovate the Monsanto Building since it was the only one received.
In addition, the members voted to approve and fulfill their obligation to submit a 10 percent match to the $400,000 CDBG grant to aid in the renovation.
The stipulation is that the payment be in the form of $40,000 cash or “in-kind” trade and McWilliams and Donald said the outlay would be “in-kind” by way of engineering services, some of which have already been provided.
They added that the engineer would be paid through the grant funds and not from the county coffers.
They also voted unanimously to accept the final form of the Parmida LLC lease agreement.
McWilliams said the county leaders had already approved it before the signing last week and this was basically a formality. District 5 Supervisor Gloria Dickerson was not present for the session.
