The Lakeview Village Council adjusted its meeting schedule, approved a new firefighter to its roster and mulled a formal letter of opposition to industrial solar development during a Monday, Jan. 6, regular meeting.
Council approved an ordinance reducing monthly meetings from two to one, with meetings now set for the first Monday of each month. This change ends the long-standing schedule of meetings on the first and third Mondays.
Ella Beelman was approved as a full-time firefighter. A Level II firefighter certified through Rhodes State College, Beelman previously served as a volunteer with the Huntsville Fire Department.
Interim Fire Chief Josh Oakley reported that the fire department now has 15 first responders, returning to pre-turmoil staffing levels. Personnel issues with the previous fire chief had led to resignations, but many of those staff members have since returned.
Mayor Elaine Fagan-Moore declared 2025 as “a time for healing,” stating that Lakeview is “back open for business.” She outlined plans for a bed tax to generate revenue from tourists and the establishment of a mayor’s court as priorities for this year.
The council also entertained a discussion about the Grange Solar project, a proposed 2,600-acre solar farm in the Indian Lake area. Representatives from Open Road Renewables, the project developer, and members of the Indian Lake Advocacy Group, a vocal opposition group, were present.
The issue of the Grange Solar farm and its proposed footprint in the area of Bloomfield, Richland, McArthur, Washington and Stokes townships is not new to Indian Lake-area residents.
The advocacy group asked the council to sign a letter opposing industrial solar development. Jason Smith, public affairs manager for Open Road Renewables, urged council not to take immediate action and suggested the issue be added to a future agenda. Smith has been attending regular council meetings for months attempting to answer questions and quell skeptical residents.
An extended back-and-forth followed, and eventually started to get a little personal. Questions ranged from environmental impacts to energy efficiency and where the energy would go. Mayor Fagan-Moore raised concerns about bird migration, but Smith argued the Audubon Society has not opposed solar farms.
Tensions escalated when opponents accused Open Road of using donations, such as contributions to the Indian Lake Watershed Project, to gain public favor. The word “bribes” was used. Resident Dave Corwin criticized the company for resuming promotions “two weeks” soon after a March tornado.
“That’s a low blow,” Smith responded, defending the company’s actions and highlighting his role in post-tornado volunteer efforts.
Council has taken no action yet on the letter of opposition, but based on public comments stand in unanimous opposition to solar development. The next regular meeting is Feb. 3.