A moratorium on the installation or construction of commercial solar panel energy facilities in the City of Bellefontaine has been imposed for the next six months.
The Bellefontaine City Council passed a resolution Tuesday, Sept. 10, by a 6-0 vote, to put the moratorium in place for the next 180 days, a measure that bars the establishment of small — under 50 megawatts — commercial solar families within in the city limits. This moratorium does not apply to homeowners who use or install solar panels on their homes or properties for private, non-commercial use.
This resolution was pushed forward following the recent backlash following a plan to establish an approximately 220 acre commercial solar facility lying adjacent to the northwest boundaries of the Bellefontaine City limits, a facility that was also expected to be eventually to be annexed into the city. Both of those actions are now in limbo, and as of now there is no immediate plan in place to annex that acreage into the city.
With the moratorium, council gave itself six months of breathing room to prevent other areas that are already within the city limits from constructing small, commercial solar facilities while the city works on the language, guidelines and restrictions that will be placed on such projects.
The lone ordnance that had a third reading and final vote Monday authorized the Service- Safety Director and the Bellefontaine Police Department to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Mac-A-Cheek Learning Center to provide a seasonal school resource officer.
In other actions, council passed a resolution to accept the gift of 20 laptop computers to the city from the Ohio Hi-Point Carer Center.
In his report to council, Captain Brian Wilson of the Bellefontaine Fire Department reported the unexpected and immediate resignation of firefighter Kevin Fausnaugh this past Sunday, citing personal reasons. Captain Wilson said that plans are being made to interview candidates fill the position, but characterized the search as “challenging” as many applicants for the position do not meet the BFD’s standards.
Police Chief Chris Marlow told the council that his department also continues to interview candidates for open police officer positions, and has another round of “promising” candidates coming in to interview.
Council is scheduled to meet again in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25.