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LISBON -- At 9:10 a.m. Aug. 2, commissioners will host another public hearing regarding proposed bans of large solar facilities or large wind farms, this time for Elkrun, Hanover, Knox and Madison townships.
Commissioners announced the hearing date Wednesday, giving their clerk permission to advertise the public hearing which will be held in the commissioners' meeting room on the first floor of the downtown courthouse.
Resolutions were received from the four townships asking commissioners to restrict the unincorporated areas of those particular townships as restricted areas, prohibiting construction of the large solar facilities and large wind farms in those areas.
A copy of the public hearing notice and maps of the areas will be posted in all public libraries in the county and published in the Morning Journal.
Written testimony can be sent to the commissioners' office prior to the public hearing date at 105 S. Market St., Lisbon, Ohio 44432, addressed to Columbiana County Board of Commissioners.
Bans have already been approved for the unincorporated areas of Butler, Center, Middleton, Salem, Unity, Wayne, Washington, Fairfield, Franklin, Perry and West townships.
If the four latest petitions get approved, that will mean 15 out of the county's 18 townships have bans to prevent the construction of large wind and solar operations.
Yellow Creek, Liverpool, and St. Clair townships are the only townships in the county that have not sought bans.
The Kensington Solar project, located in Franklin Township, won't be affected by the ban in Franklin Township because the vote came after the project plans were already submitted. The project remains pending before the Ohio Power Siting Board.
In other business, the commissioners also set a public hearing for 9:10 a.m. July 12 for the county tax budget for fiscal year 2024. The hearing will be held in the commissioners' meeting room in the downtown courthouse. The budget is available for review in the office of the county auditor and the board of commissioners in the courthouse.
mgreier@mojonews.com