Wisconsin Rapids Common Council approves land lease for solar project

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Jan. 20 City of Wisconsin Rapids Common Council meeting began with the council considering Mayor Zacher’s appointments for various committees, commissions and boards.
It was moved by Michael Timm and seconded by Jeff Penzkover to approve the following appointments to the Historic Preservation Commission through Feb. 1, 2029:
Katy Bailey was reappointed as an alternate member, Pat Kozicki was appointed as an alternate member to replace Helen Streekstra, Helen Streekstra was appointed as a regular member to replace Pat Kozicki and Marygrace Schliesman was reappointed as a regular member. The motion carried unanimously.
During the report from the Planning Commission meeting held on Jan. 5, the council considered action on a request from the City of Wisconsin Rapids Water Works and Lighting Commission to rezone 30 acres of city-owned land (2211 Whitrock Avenue and 2520 Two Mile Avenue) from an R-2 Mixed Residential Zoning District to a C-1 Conservancy zoning district for the purpose of constructing a solar power plant. Community Development Director Kyle Kearns stated that the C-1 Conservancy classification would be appropriate whether or not the solar project moved forward.
The public was given the opportunity to provide comments. Several citizens expressed their concerns regarding buffers, property values, the installation and maintenance of an additional power source, pulping the land, if the size of the project could provide a significant enough amount of energy, costs, potential leaching of nitrates and the option for a referendum vote.

Todd Weiler, general manager of WWLC, spoke about well protection and the water supply as well as the use of types of plant species for water filtering. He also touched on landscape design, project and demand costs and attracting businesses to the community.
Stanley Minnick of OneEnergy responded to concerns about water quality and monitoring, well heads, nitrates, cooling fluids, solar panel types, costs, contract transparency, screening, use of transformers, insurance policies, maintenance, removal of equipment, bonds and securities and noise.
Mayor Zacher motioned to approve the request for a Conditional Use Permit with several conditions for the solar plant, including a mandatory eight-foot security fence around the perimeter and for the plant to partner with an independent entity to perform testing and analysis on the effects the solar project has on water quality within the wellhead protection area.
It was moved by Ryan Austin and seconded by Justin Pluess to approve the land lease and solar easement with Great Lakes Distributed Energy, LLC, the purchase of land for future Water Works and Lighting Commission purposes and the purchase of land from Wood County, located along 16th St. South. Austin, Pluess, Dennis Polach and Madalyn Palmquist voted aye, while Dean Veneman, Jake Cattanach and Timm voted nay. The motion carried, 5-3.