WYNNE — The Cross County Quorum Court will require any future wind projects that receive a tax abatement from the county to fully fund the decommissioning of the project prior to the start of construction.
Justices held a special meeting yesterday to discuss a wind project set for the Parkin area in eastern Cross County. A company is wanting to put around 40 turbines there.
That project has been on hold while county officials had several questions addressed. That included the decommissioning of the turbines once the project is no longer active.
Justice Scott May said he believes the county was caught off guard by the first wind project, which was completed by Toronto, Ontario-based Cordelio Power in the Wynne area.
County Attorney Vince Guest said the contract with Cordelio gives them 10 years from the time the turbines became active last year to fund their decommissioning.
In addition, May said he would like to see any future company that instills turbines to be more active in the community.
A meeting of the county budget committee preceded yesterday’s Quorum Court meeting.
Among the items of discussion during that meeting was the county’s vacation leave policy. Justices had discussed a potential change to that policy during their May meeting. The failed ordinance would have allowed employees to use their vacation time by the anniversary of their hire date, instead of losing any unused time at end of the year.
Justice Kevin Jumper suggested the county consider a one-time ordinance that would allow county employees to use any extra time off without penalty. Many of the county employees at risk of losing their vacation days work for the Cross County Sheriff’s Department.
Committee members also discussed the county judge’s office serving as a central depository for the county with the county clerk’s office maintaining copies of those documents. They also agreed to seek RFQs (requests for quotation) to update the county’s website.
Justice Carl Loewer said the website should be updated to be more transparent to county residents.
The RFQs are due by July 13, which is one week before what could be the court’s final meeting on their regular meeting date.
The Quorum Court traditionally meets on the third Monday of each month. Justices are considering a move to either the second or fourth Monday of each month to avoid meeting at the same time as the Wynne and Cross County School Boards.
