Local News
NY firm only wind game left
CONNEAUT — A New York firm apparently is the only viable company remaining among three suitors interested in using publicly owned land on Conneaut's East Side for a wind turbine farm, City Council learned at Monday's work session.
City administrators have heard nothing from two companies that months ago expressed interest in dozens of acres within the East Conneaut Industrial Park, council was told. As a result, the city will extend an invitation to BQ Energy to submit a proposal for the property, council agreed.
Only a few weeks ago, a contract was pending with SGR Site Associates for a two-year option on 159 acres of industrial park land. Pending the result of feasibility studies, SGR planned to wed the city land to two adjoining, privately owned parcels to create a 2,500-acre tract on either side of the state line.
Council eventually tabled, then defeated, the measure as more questions about the contract were raised. SGR countered by offering to lease, not buy, the land — a sticking point with some council members. The city sent an e-mail to SGR regarding the lease proposal but never received an answer, said Law Director Lori Lamer.
Property Investment Enterprises of Geneva was another company that expressed interest in a wind turbine project, but PIE's proposal never received much consideration from council.
Unlike the other firms, BQ’s staff has experience creating wind farms and recently launched an eight-turbine farm in Lackawanna, N.Y.
In other business, council's public safety committee will meet at 7 p.m. today to discuss overtime costs within the fire department. Representatives from Fire Station One, the city's full-time station, will attend.
Thousands of dollars in budget amendments will be needed by the end of the year to shore up overtime accounts among the full-time and utility firefighters, said Finance Director and interim City Manager John Williams.
Elsewhere, council heard another plea from Ward 3 Councilman Greg Mooney to consider a revision within the city's personnel policy to give department supervisors more protection from a vengeful city manager. Mooney wants the manager to show just cause for the termination of any supervisor. Presently those employees are considered at-will workers and can be fired for any termination.
Supervisors fearful of running afoul of the manager and losing their jobs are less likely to provide council with full and unbiased information, said Mooney. Last week a majority of council defeated a measure that would make the policy changes Mooney seeks.
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