Help ensure JPC has enough resources to complete the Solar regulation process

May 1. 2019 – “Solar” first appeared on a JPC agenda

Timeline of JPC actions on Solar text amendment

At day
581Dec. 2, 2020A draft solar ordinance was created but not presented at this meeting.
735May 5, 2021On the JPC’s agenda – “Solar Energy Systems Process Discussion
763June 2, 2021on the JPC’s agenda – “Solar Energy Systems Workshop
797July 6, 62021JPC members visit Ohio solar installations
798July 7, 2021on the JPC’s agenda – “Solar Energy Systems Workshop
826Aug. 4, 2021regular meeting, published agenda does not mention “solar”
854Sept. 1, 2021on agenda as “Solar Energy Systems Process Discussion”
889Oct. 6, 2021on agenda as “Solar Energy Systems Process Discussion”
917Nov. 3, 2021regular JPC meeting canceled 
930Nov. 16 2021“Proposed Solar Energy Systems Ordinance Text” Public Hearing
932Days after
Public
Hearing
Nov. 18 2021“Proposed Solar Energy Systems Ordinance Text” Public Hearing
94513Dec. 1, 2021regular JPC meeting canceled
98048Jan. 5, 2022regular JPC meeting canceled
100876Feb. 2, 2022JPC will not have “Solar” on agenda
(as per G. Larger, see below) 
1036104Mar. 2, 2022JPC will not have “Solar” on agenda

George Larger’s explanation (01/27/22 email to Bill Marshall) for Solar absence on JPC agenda in coming months.

“It hasn’t been on the agenda this month and won’t be on the agenda next month because I haven’t had to opportunity to adequately prepare and organize the materials for the JPC its members need to make an informed decision on the issue, including a staff report, related research, and possible changes to the proposal; when given a choice of doing something fast or right, I usually choose the latter, since choosing both is almost never an option.”


There are two solutions to “insufficient resources”. 1) Reorganize existing resources to accomplish required deliverables. 2) Devote more resources to accomplish required deliverables. What is doomed to failure are leaders who only tell workers to “peddle faster”. 

The Maysville City Commission and the Mason County Fiscal Court chartered and now fund the JPC. These two entities are responsible for ensuring the JPC has resources and is organized to accomplish required deliverables.

If you find this delay due to lack of resources as concerning as I do, call and or talk to all the Maysville commissioners and Fiscal Court members you know.  Please convince them that they need to ensure JPC has enough resources to complete the Solar regulation process. If you can, determine if individuals are attempting a “pocket veto” of solar.  In other words, are they intentionally starving the JPC of resources needed to complete a solar ordinance?  I hope you will use these conversations to gauge which elected officials and candidates are pro-solar and which are “anti”.

Mason County’s Solar opportunity will only be open for a short time.  Our advantage is due to the many long-distance electric transmission lines that cross our county.  But, folks, sunlight falls everywhere!  These continued delays in drafting an ordinance will drive solar developers to counties that have established reasonable conditions for solar.  As solar projects elsewhere connect to transmission lines that pass through Mason, our opportunity for solar to deliver ecological and financial benefits to our area will evaporate.



City Commissioners and Fiscal Court Members

Mason County Fiscal Court Members
NamePositionPhone
Owen J. McNeillJudge Executive(606) 564-6706
Joe McKayCommissioner(606) 407-3591
Phil DayCommissioner(606) 407-3363
Chris O’HearnCommissioner(606) 584-6676
Maysville City Commission Members
NamePositionPhone
Debra L. CotterillMayor606-564-9419
Victor McKayMayor Pro Tem606-584-0449
Andrew WoodCommissioner606-564-9959
Ann BrammerCommissioner606-584-1760
David CartmellCommissioner606-584-5371
Matt WallingfordCity Manager606-564-2521

Supporting material

Email exchange between George Larger and Bill Marshall

JPC starts Solar text amendment process

Additional Real Estate Tax Revenue Solar can contribute to local tax districts

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