Study New Zoning Regs For Windmills

Archbold Planning Commission will consider rules and regulations for electricity-generating wind turbines, or windmills.

Archbold Village Councilmen approved a resolution referring the question of wind turbine regulations to the commission during their Monday night, Feb. 4 meeting.

"We need to look at addressing wind turbines in the zoning code," Howell said, adding the commission will probably need more than one meeting to consider the matter.

Jeff Fryman, councilman, said he believes now is the time commission will probably need more than one meeting to consider the matter.

Jeff Fryman, councilman, said he believes now is the time to consider wind turbine regulation.

There are already wind turbine dealers in Henry and Williams counties.

Fryman said some of the windmills are being mounted on concrete pads nine to 15 feet square.Howell said some of the windmills create noise issues.

Urbas

Howell recommended the village work with Tony Urbas, a Waterville engineer, who had a consulting business in Archbold at one time. Urbas was the engineer for many Archbold capital projects.

Urbas helped Waterville draft zoning ordinances for wind turbines, and is assisting the Archbold Area School District with its wind power program.

Howell said Urbas has already done much of the research on wind turbine regulation.

Brad Grime, councilman, asked that the chairman of the zoning board of appeals be involved in the meeting.

Meeting With Trustees

Ed Leininger, councilman, called for a work session meeting that would include a meeting with the German Township Trustees.

Leininger said he wanted to discuss the village's time frame for road construction with the trustees. No date was set.

Kevin Eicher, councilman, said he was concerned about the Co. Rd. 24 Norfolk-Southern railroad crossing.

With the extensions of Lafayette Street and Nolan Parkway, which village officials are considering, "We're going to be dumping a lot of traffic out on that road (Co. Rd. 24)."

Eicher said the south side of the crossing is acceptable, but the north side has a sharp downward angle, which could create a problem.

"We would have to come up with a large project to impact the road (Co. Rd. 24)," Jim Wyse, Archbold mayor said.

Council approved a final change order with Gerken Paving, Napoleon, for a 2006 miscellaneous street resurfacing project.

The project was put off until the following spring, due to rainfall and cooler-than-usual temperatures that fall.

The final change order reduced the total contract price to $24,621.65, making the final price $591,160.85.

Council also reviewed the engineering contract status report and a letter from Ohio Gas, announcing that natural gas rates would remain unchanged for the next quarter.- David Pugh

------ If you don't run your own life, somebody else will.- John Atkinson

Village of Archbold Municipal Income Tax Receipts

Jan.., 2007	$278,429.42
Jan.., 2008	$345,355.81
Difference ($)	+$66,926.39
Difference (%)	+24.04%

Information provided by Village of Archbold Income Tax Department, as provided to Archbold Village Council; monthly figures represent gross income tax receipts received from the village's 1.5% income tax during the month, plus the same month one year ago;