Commissioners approve permits that could lead to million dollar development

A developer with Sandhills Energy LLC., came before the Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday to request permits granting solar utility transmission.

Chuck Hassebrook, Vice President for Project Development with Sandhills Energy came before the board to request permits for a project he projected could bring in $150,000, over 30 years, in tax revenue for Cheyenne County, while creating a few permanent jobs.

The project is a 40 mega watt solar panel, located two miles north Sidney. Hassebrook said the project would take 50 million dollars to build.

According to Hassebrook the project has been in the works for over a year and has been “very involved,” securing mineral rights and other groundwork for the projected project.

Hassbrook came before the Commissioners to request permits for utility transmission poles that would transfer solar generators to transformers.

Sandhills Energy, simply lays the groundwork for the the proposed project. In the meeting Hassebrook said an outside contractor, would be the one to build the solar panels. Hassebrook also said the Cheyenne County Commissioners will still be able to approve construction and contractor when the time came.

Hassebrook said it could still take a few years to sell the ground work Sandhills has laid for the project to a contractor and construction for the solar panels could take about eight years.

Commissioners approved Sandhills permit request.

Rachel Smith, CPA at Rauner & Associates came before the board for preliminary introductions, Smith will be working with county officials to compile the 2016-2017, Cheyenne County Budget. Budget talks will begin in July, with the 2016-2017 budget completed by September.

Correspondence from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources stated that flood plain mapping will be conducted in Cheyenne County from Dec. 5 till March 31.

In the meeting, Commissioners said they will send out a response to the letter requesting they be notified where the mapping will begin.

Commissioners reviewed and approved a resolution authorizing Cheyenne County Treasurer Diane Scott, to transfer funds from the county general fund to the county road fund.

Scott said the County Road Department does not have it’s own levy, so after the county budget is set, the draw is made to fund it.

Highway Superintendent Doug Hart presented a resolution the Commissioners later approved, regarding a certificate of completion for a Nebraska Department of Roads project in which new signs were placed on area bridges.

The next regular Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Equalization meeting will be held on Dec. 19 at 8 a.m. in the Commissioners meeting room in the Cheyenne County Court House, located at 1000 10th Ave in Sidney.