he Tazewell County Board of Supervisors insist they aren’t dragging their feet when it comes to making a decision about wind turbines.
But it’s starting to look like they are doing just that. The board has been studying the issue of wind turbines and the proposed ridgeline protection — or tall structure — ordinance for well over a year.
The first public hearing on the original tall structure ordinance was held back in November 2008 — on the night of a significant snow storm for that matter. Now, more than a year later, the board has once again opted to delay an already scheduled public hearing on the revised ridgeline protection ordinance.
The public hearing was originally set for Dec. 1. However, the supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday night — with board chairman David Anderson abstaining — to move the public hearing to Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 6:15 p.m. at Tazewell Middle School, or Tazewell High School if Tazewell Middle School is not available on Jan. 12.
Bill Wimmer, the board’s vice chairman, said he wouldn’t vote on the tall structure ordinance if it came to the board for a decision before Dec. 31. Wimmer, who lost his re-election bid in the Northwestern District to John Absher, argued it would be unfair to Absher, and new Northern District board member Jim Campbell Jr., to make a decision before the new board is seated. Campbell, who was elected to fill an unexpired term, has already been seated. Absher will be seated in January.
But it is important to remember that Wimmer, along with board members Anderson, Mike Hymes and Seth White, have been studying the wind turbine issue for more than a year. It’s not something that just suddenly came up. The issue has been referred to a tall structure’s committee, and to the county’s planning commission, as well.
It has been studied, and studied, and studied yet again.
Had the supervisors held the public hearing on Dec. 1 as originally advertised, and had the board then tabled or opted not to vote on the tall structure ordinance at the December meeting, another public hearing would have had to be scheduled, according to County Attorney Eric Young. Young said if a board holds a public hearing, the board members must vote on the ordinance in question during the session of the body, and the session would be the terms of the current board members. Wimmer’s term, or session, ends on Dec. 31.
We understand that explanation. However, it is important to note that the board still could have proceeded with the Dec. 1 public hearing, and still could have voted on the ridgeline ordinance — with or without Wimmer’s vote had he opted to abstain. Of course one would prefer — and expect — to have all five board members vote on an issue as significant as wind turbines.
The wind turbine debate isn’t going to go away. The supervisors can continue to delay a vote on this issue, or they can do what they were elected to do — make tough decisions on controversial issues. Folks across Tazewell County are watching — particularly the citizens of Bluefield, Va.
Now, we are going to have a public hearing on Jan. 12 — in the dead of winter. That means we could have another snow storm on the night of the public hearing.
And such a storm will make it tougher on folks in Bluefield, Va., to make it to Tazewell for the public hearing.
The decision on whether to allow tall structures like wind turbines to be erected on ridgelines like East River Mountain rests with the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.
Yes, folks are divided on wind turbines. Yes, it’s a volatile issue. Yes, folks are going to be angry no matter what decision is made. But ultimately a decision must be made.
And that’s what the Board of Supervisors were elected to do.
Editorials
November 18, 2009
Wind turbines: Board must stop procrastinating
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