Wind farm conversation

[indygal]

I had the pleasure of attending the Community Conversation last evening in Moline. This event, hosted by Elk Konnected, was designed to get the public's ideas on how to best spend the PILOT funds provided by the new Caney River Wind Farm project, scheduled to go online by late 2011 to early 2012. Clearly, this is a momentous opportunity for our county: an estimated $1 million a year for 20 years, to use however the county deems appropriate.

Anyone who attended – and there more than 250 countians who did – can tell you this meeting was positive, productive, and encouraging. By no means were any decisions made, but there were some promising suggestions and a lot of good brainstorming. As one participant pointed out, even if the wind farm money were to never materialize, there many wonderful ideas shared that could be done, and some at very low cost.

As many of you know, my husband and I are "come heres." We moved to Elk County in early 2008 for no other reason than we'd purchased a home here and we liked the people we had met. Having lived in other parts of the country and in various sizes of towns, we believe we each can bring different perspectives to the table. We both have become involved in community organizations, and have every intention of staying here the rest of our lives. That's why I was so excited to have the opportunity last night to help plan our county's future.

For those who don't know, Elk Konnected is part of the Public Square Communities program, which is designed to represent four pillars of any community: business, human services, government, and education. Each small circle of participants last night represented not only these four sectors but also the different towns in Elk County. In my circle, there were two men and four women (one a high school student). There were three people from Grenola, two from Howard, and one from Moline. Every small circle included this kind of diversity so that the ideas being shared were from different perspectives. That's why these types of conversations are so informative and important.

I hope those who had doubts and concerns before the meeting felt differently afterward. Unfortunately, there were a few who brought some anger and fear into the setting initially, and even after they were encouraged to join in the process and share their ideas, they chose to be escorted from the room. Let me make this very clear: every person in that room had numerous opportunities to voice their thoughts throughout the evening. Every one, that is, who understands the concept that a community conversation takes place in a group, and not from the sidelines. It was truly a public forum, with rules of conduct that everyone agreed to follow; in doing so, the discussions were respectful, lively, and enlightening. It was refreshing to see how town rivalries can be set aside to work toward making Elk County an even better place to live.

So, what was discussed? Here are some of the most popular ideas for using the PILOT funds: paying off county debt; improving county and town roads/streets; property tax relief; improved water services for all county residents; transportation services for elderly and children; investing in our youth with a mutual agreement that they bring professions and trades back to our county after attending college; setting aside money for matching-funds grants; youth activity centers in each town; improvements made to the county airport; golf course; tax incentives for new business and light industry (job creation); and building a retirement community with assisted living and condo-style dwellings (addresses job and housing issues). There were many more – at least 250 – ideas expressed and shared with the audience.

At the end of the evening, it was decided that one person from each circle would serve on an action team of approximately 16-20 members. This group will work with the commissioners in prioritizing how the PILOT funds are spent. There also will be more public conversations, and as always, everyone is welcome to attend. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to send questions and comments to the Prairie Star newspaper, where they will be printed along with the answers and updates on an ongoing basis.
If you have ideas and/or concerns and did not attend last night, please consider taking part in this exciting conversation. How often does a county have a literal windfall of $20 million to improve not only current conditions but to create a better future for our children and grandchildren? Please don't sit on the sidelines and be an armchair critic – get involved. This affects everyone, not just those who are charged with making the decisions.

Lynne Thompson
Howard, KS

[mayflower]

Indygal,  What a wonderful, informative, and exact accounting of the evening!  Good job!  I hope this information encourages all that attended and those who didn't, to continue with the positive conversation.

Again, thank you for the great summary of the meeting!

[Clubine Ranch]

Yes Lynne, Thank you for putting in written word, what went on in the meeting last night.
The number in attendance was outstanding.
The circle I was in consisted of men and women from rural Elk Falls, rural Howard, city of Howard and rural Moline. Age wise, we were a mix of young working people and retired people.  Each person leaned in to the circle to hear and listen carefully to what the other had to say. And yes, everyone in our circle shared an opinion. We took turns talking, if we agreed we said so, if we disagreed we said so. If we wanted to add something to what was said we did. If we wanted the suggestion to be clarified we did. We wrote down what was important to each of us.
Dales group had people from Grenola and Longton.  He said a lot was shared and learned there. Again each person had the opportunity to speak and share their ideas and concerns.
All  learned from each other and much respect was shown. No, we did not solve the problems our communities face but at least we are facing them and yes good things can come out of this with everyones attitude of working together in a fair and respectful manner.
It was a very good meeting. Very proud to live in a community that has so many willing to publicly be open and honest with their needs and concerns while being respectful to themselves and others.
Barbara Clubine

[Wilma]

In MHO the money should be used to boost the economy.  Relieve the real estate taxes, thereby leaving more money in our pockets, money that everyone knows will not stay in our pockets, but will be spent.  Boost the economy.

[sixdogsmom]

I agree wholeheartedly Wilma. Lower taxes and they will come. 

[Wilma]

Encourage population growth.  Lower taxes and make owning Elk county real estate more attractive.  Encourage population growth.

[Varmit]

Property tax relief would definately get my vote.  I think that something like this should be put up to a vote.  Place a few of the serious ideas on the ballot, and narrow it down that way.  In my opinion some that were mentioned could be thrown out...improvements on the airport??...a golf course??...youth centers??...retirement homes??..come on, get serious.  This money should be used to benefit the county as a whole, not just certain segments of it.  As for population growth, we have enough people here the way it is, IMHO.  This is a decision that should be left up to the county residents, not a committee.  Lord knows we have enough of those around here the way it is.

[jarhead]

I didn't attend the meeting so I don't know what was said but I did talk to someone that was there and they told me the figure of a million dollars a year that's being tossed around was not what he heard at the meeting. He heard from $600,000 to $900,000 a year. There is a big difference between $600,000 and a $1,000,000. Does anyone know for sure what kind of money we are talking about ?

[evanstrail]

The PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) starts at $4500 per installed nameplate capacity measured in megawatts.  Phase one is supposed to be 150 MW with full buildout possibly being 200 MW.  The PILOT increases by 2% each year in each of the succeeding 19 years. 

With the compounding effect what would start out as $675000 (150 x $4500) would become $806688 in year 10 and $983347 in year 20.  That's on 150 MW.  If the other 50 MW are installed, the PILOT would be $1,075,584 in year 10 and $1,311,130 in year 20.

I did the math, but using figures straight from the Dec 31, 2008 agreement signed between the Elk County Commission and the Caney River Wind Project.

[Patriot]

I'm going to post this here as well as in Politics.  While this is about politics in part, it's also about life in Elk County. And much more than just windmill money.

There may not be much opposition to what's now happening with Elk Konnected.  See the recent glowing posts about their Moline meeting in the Coffee Shop.  ElkKonnected LLC (with County Commissioner Hendricks on it's Board of Directors) has enlisted FourSquare, LLC to help implement a program of organized community enhancements (much like the Communist Chinese do in local 'councils' & committees).

FourSquare is headed by a well heeled Democrat who has implemented similar 'projects' across Kansas.  Why, Chanute is even 'FourSquare certified' (for what that's worth).  One KS county, after 4 years on the FourSquare diet, has increased school enrollment by.......... 3 pupils, and the community (read: indocrinated sheeple) are ecstatic!  Go figure.

After having highly structured meetings where input is taken from the community at large about needs in the community, a much smaller, select group determines (supposedly from the earlier inputs) what is 'most needed/desired and then makes official recommendations to (read: pushes) local government, business, etc.  This objectively looks like an ACORN style community organization scam if ever there were one.  Of course any dissent, opposition or deep searching is met with rapid segregation and demonization.  See Saul Alinsky and Rules For Radicals.  Military folk will know it as divide and conquer.

But the influential local powers that be seem to really be behind this... kinda like their recent attempts to put the taxpayers in debt for $5.5 million dollars for excessive school improvements (just before the economy tanked).  Trust me, this may well end up costing Elk taxpayers and creating more division among the citizens than it's worth. We may well get some new 'stuff', like an exercise center in Howard, but real county growth..... I doubt it.  Surely no more than local citizens could generate without 'outside' organization.  Elk citizens are fully capable!

Finaly, I doubt this will do much for rural Elk residents at all.... we're used to lousy roads, & we got chores to do.

For once I agree with Varmit.  Get input, put this to a public vote in a voter referendum.  Let the taxpaying public tell the Commission what to do for once.  Back door 'democracy' and special influence is dangerous and unneeded.  We already have a governmental system..... demand that it do the job we elected it to do.