A pair of magistrate concerns came more clearly into the picture during Tuesday evening’s Trigg County Fiscal Court meeting, in which the potential arrival of solar farms and the online streaming and publishing of fiscal proceedings produced the tune.
With the recent introduction of House Bill 4 in the Kentucky General Assembly, District 3’s Cameron Sumner noted he’d like to see the body address Trigg County’s zoning preferences for solar installations — which, at some point, will likely come before the court as national industry continues its mission for energy diversification and self-reliance.
Sumner pointed to the neighbors of the east in Christian County, in hopes of avoiding such a scenario.
District 1’s Mike Wright further ascertained that conversations with Christian County’s magistrates at a legislative training meeting proved fruitful and informative.
Among the many provisions created with House Bill 4, electric generation companies would be required to update decommissioning plans and bond amounts at least once every five years. Once said facility would be construction and begins generating electricity for sale, it would require the merchant in operation to have any removed and discarded solar panels be erased from the property within 90 days of completed work.
It also gives jurisdiction to the circuit court in any county where a merchant electric generating facility is located…and allows for a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 per day to be imposed for any violation of bonding and bond transfer requirements. It further allows that if the decommissioning of the facility is still non-compliant after 90 days, the operation can be suspended entirely. And if a decommissioning plan is not completed within 18 months, the state’s Energy and Environment Cabinet shall intervene.
Meanwhile, Wright passed along once again that he’s hearing a call from local constituents for the court to thoroughly explore and implement a streaming option for its bi-monthly meetings.
Judge-Executive Stan Humphries said he had “no problem” with the meetings being available to the public, or with the eventual installation of such a service. He noted the meetings always have a scheduled time for public comments, and that his office and prior courts have explored — and will continue to explore — the pricing required for streaming devices and cameras.
He further agreed that the fiscal court remains as a service to the public, and that during his time as state senator, the efforts of the Kentucky General Assembly were well reported and “always on KET.”
His main concern, however, stems from the possibility of a tainted court, in which magistrates and himself might find discussion points more difficult based on the potential for public pressure.
Humphries also mentioned that if such measures were implemented, the video maybe needed to appear next day for the public, and not live.
Humphries clued magistrates in on the purchase of a new backstop apparatus for the Trigg County Wildcats baseball field at the Recreation Complex. After reviewing three companies, courtesy of Billy Fortner and Mark Terrell, Humphries said he opted to go with a company in Memphis for “a little over $2,000.” The county will save money by picking it up in Memphis, about four weeks from now.
The baseball field at the Complex is owned by the county and leased to the school system during baseball season.
