Email: "Wind energy project may bring in 300 workers"
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TOLEDO CHRONICLE- A wind energy field bordering U.S. Highway 63 and stretching from north of Toledo to Iowa Highway 96 is in the development stage. Tom Green, a representative of Wind Capital Group, told the Tama County Board of Supervisors at their Jan. 5 meeting up to 300 skilled workers could be brought into the area to construct the wind turbine generators and perform associated work.

Green indicated the project could be 18 to 24 months down the road while locations are secured from property owners.

The wind generators, like those which continue to be seen more frequently dotting rural landscapes, have blades measuring 140 feet long and weigh 40,000 lbs. The substructures go 30 feet into the ground and total weight is about 312 tons.

In matters related to wind energy generation on Tuesday:

•Bill Christensen, county zoning administrator, told the supervisors the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on amendments to the July 7, 1998 Tama County Zoning Ordinance. The ordinance amendments to be considered pertain to commercial and non-commercial wind energy conversion systems (WECS).

Christensen said Ron Busch, Zoning commission member, and he were present. However, a telephone conference call was made to board members Doug Dvorak and Wade Mitchell with the proposed ordinance discussed. Following this discussion a vote was held on the proposed ordinance with Busch, Dvorak and Mitchell all voting in favor. Board members Keith Sash and Harold Schuett were both absent. However it was noted Sash had attended a previous meeting when the ordinance was first presented to the Tama County Board of Supervisors and had no objections.

Three readings of this ordinance have been scheduled, the first being Jan. 11, the second Jan. 18, and the third and the public hearing on Jan. 25, all in the Tama County Board of Supervisors room. A copy of the Ordinance Amendment can be seen at the Tama County Auditor’s Office.

•The second reading of the Wind Energy Conversion Assessment Ordinance was read and approved by an aye vote from all three supervisors. This ordinance was to provide for the special valuation of wind energy conversion property to comply with Iowa Code Chapter 427B.26.

In other business:

•County Engineer Lyle Brehm reported snow removal has been a continual job. Salt will not cause snow to melt when temperatures are as cold as they have been so they have not been placing much salt.

•Bids were received in Ames through the Iowa DOT for two bridge replacement projects on Tama County Roads. The low bid for the bridge in Otter Creek, Section 22 is for $93,539 by Gus Construction. The low bid for the bridge in Howard Section 29 is $106,774 also by Gus Construction. Both bridges will be replaced with a double cell box culvert. Each cell measures twelve feet wide by eight feet high by forty-two feet long. The DOT takes the bids and sends the results to Tama County. Tama County has the choice of rejecting all bids or accepting the lowest bid. When the Board approves the contract it will be sent to the contractor. When they sign the contract and return it to Tama County for the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to sign. At that time the papers will be sent to the DOT for final approval. Both jobs are expected to be started prior to the middle of the summer and will take roughly two months to complete.

•Three people were reappointed to the Tama County Pioneer Cemetery Association Board. Ardene Cross of Clutier, Wendy Waterbeck of Chelsea and Brett Miller, Gladbrook, for three year terms ending December 31, 2012.

•Claims paid for last week totaled $91,697.

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