(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing today (Tuesday), on the 2^nd reading of revision/amendments to the Solar Power Zoning Ordinance. The hearing was part of the Board’s regular weekly meeting. They also passed a motion to waive the third reading, and passed the Ordinance as written. Last week, the Board approved the 1^st reading that made language in the Ordinance more consistent and removed unneeded definitions. They also added some sections with regard to the availability of funds for decommissioning, ground cover, and noise.

Board Chair Mark Peterson read the Ordinance which amends one that was created/updated in 1997. Here’s a part of what he said..

In other business, Chairman Peterson administered the the Oath of Office Jill Ozuna, the new Montgomery County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections. She will succeed Stephanie Burke, who resigned to take a job with the Stanton Community School District. Ozuna will fill the seat by appointment, effective August 1^st, and until at least the General Election in November.

Jill Ozuna is administered the Oath of Office as County Auditor/Commissioner of Elections (7-26-22)

The Montgomery County Supervisor’s also approved a request for use of the Courthouse lawn on Aug. 20^th, for the Red Oak Farmer’s Market; They approved an ARPA funding request for the Law Enforcement Center’s LED lighting upgrade. Sheriff John Spunaugle said MidAmerican Energy is providing the County with an incentive that pays for 25 percent of the project. The cost to replace the fixtures is $34,487, with MidAmerican kicking in $8,600. It’s estimated the new lighting would save the county around $7,634 per year.

Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm and his associate provided the Board with a proposal for pipeline inspection and related services. The Board took the proposal under consideration. And, they approved the abatement of taxes for County-owned property.