Residents and developer press Wapello County supervisors to pursue mediation and ordinance on renewable-energy project

Speakers at the Wapello County Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 22 urged the board to pursue mediation and adopt a county ordinance to govern a proposed renewable-energy project.

A board member reported a recent, positive call with an attorney who said mediation was possible and recommended the county adopt an ordinance before allowing unregulated activity. “The attorney is willing to mediate,” the board member said, adding that the attorney indicated he would charge about $250 per hour for extended services.

Jared Hershberger, identifying himself as representing Fox Wind, told supervisors he welcomed mediation. He noted the company has supported local programs, including Shop with a Cop and food pantry donations, and said he hoped progress on an ordinance would allow the firm to resume broader local engagement. “We’re still here. We’re still gonna work with you guys,” Hershberger said.

Public commenters including Lorraine Ewing and Mary Stewart told the board they support renewable energy in Wapello County and provided written statements for the record.

Board members discussed the scope of mediation — whether it would address setbacks, quantity and turbine height or the entire ordinance — and agreed to schedule a work session and to pursue mediation after coordinating with counsel. One supervisor said the goal was to reach a compromise and, after the ordinance-reading process, have an ordinance ready for an early-January vote if possible.

What’s next: Supervisors directed staff to coordinate meeting dates and notify participants; the mediation and subsequent ordinance-reading process will determine next formal steps.