Multiple public comments were received at the Monday, Nov. 13 Commissioners Court meeting in regards to what looked like a routine agenda item.
Item number 11 was listed as “discussion and action to approve a road bore permit under County Road 246 in Precinct 1.”
The road bore project was in regards to the Erath County Solar project by Nextera Energy Resources.
During public comments, Kathy Valley spoke to the commissioners in regards to holding Nextera Energy Resources accountable for the solar project.
“Our land is our gift and it’s going to be destroyed,” she said.
Joanna Friebele, who has previously spoken against solar energy projects, asked the commissioners to table the agenda item and to allow a special meeting for those in Erath County who are concerned about the project to give feedback.
“I know you are limited as to what you can do,” she said. “Green energy is hitting a wall. Nextera stock fell 66% today.”
Friebele said that storm water runoff, fire hazards from the solar panel themselves and damage to the roads all needed to be considered.
“Please, please table this option,” she asked.
Bonnie Crumley also spoke in the public comments asking the court to postpone the bore under the road.
“There will be tremendous damage to our roads. We are looking at the future,” she said.
As a neighbor, she said they will be looking at the solar panels from now on if the project moves forward.
Ed Dominguez also spoke during the comments and discouraged the court from approving the permit.
“If it was just as simple as issuing a permit ... it will initiate a multimillion dollar project that will have serious consequences,” he said. “Nextera has been fined $30 million in environmental and wildlife fi nes.”
According to the database ViolationTracker. com, Florida Power & Light/ NextEra has been fined in excess of $30 million over the past 20 years. These violations include energy market violations, environmental violations, labor relations violations, wage and hour violations, nuclear safety violations and utility service violations, employment discrimination, workplace safety or health violation according to the website.
Dominguez stated that the court should only approve the road bore when every one of the unintended consequences are satisfied and accurate, verifiable information had been received.
After moving to the agenda item, the commissioners discussed the item.
“This is a legislative issue,” County Judge Brandon Huckabee said. “We will do everything in our power to protect our communities.”
Commissioner Dee Stephens said that he would love to have a meeting where people could give their feedback.
Ultimately, Huckabee said, that the commission has no authority to deny a road boring permit for a public utility.
However, after examining the documents for the road bore, the court discovered there were no GPS coordinates listed like all of the other road bore projects on the agenda.
“Where is it on 246? It’s a long road,” Commissioner Jim Buck asked.
Commissioners unanimously tabled the item until the coordinates could be provided for the bore.
Other road bore projects were approved including two projects in Precinct 1 for CR 401 and CR 403, four projects in precinct 3 including CR 149, CR 156, CR 151 and CR 157 and four projects for precinct 4 including CR 419, CR 422 and two projects on CR 163. The majority of the bore projects are in regard to a pipeline project.
The county also received its 2022 audit presented by Jeremy Stephens, a CPA from EideBailly. This is the first year the firm is working with Erath County and they presented an unmodified opinion on the financial statements. An unmodified opinion is the best opinion that can be received.
The commissioners also contracted the firm for the FY 2023 audit.
In other business the commissioners: ■ Received paperwork that County Auditor Kent Reeves filed his bond and was appointed for another two-year term by Judge Jason Cashon.
■ approved a contract between Erath County Sheriff’s Office and Pecan Valley Centers for Behavioral and Developmental Healthcare
■ approved the agreement for RTS workstations in the motor vehicle office
■ approved allowing precinct 2 onto private property on CR 322 to clean a drainage ditch and fence row for Donnie Bramlett to aid water flow on the county road.
■ approved the use of county equipment to clean up the Erath County Livestock Showgrounds
■ approved line item transfers
■ approved surplus items to go to auction
■ received and opened bids for annual road construction materials