January 30, 2003
The Hyde County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday morning to discuss the pending wind energy project in southern Hyde County. Steve Ponder of FPL Energy, a sister company to Florida Power and Light, was present at the meeting, as well as Commissioners Dean Peterson, Bob Bawdon, Simon Kusser, Larry Kerr and Mel Buchhiem, Hyde County Auditor Connie Konrad, Hyde County Director of Equalization Carrie Stephenson, Mayor Mike Newton, LeRoy Ratzlaff, Mary Ann Morford and Rich Larson.
Steve Ponder began his presentation by referring to the information he presented at a public meeting Saturday, Jan 18, in the East Wing of the Hyde County Memorial Auditorium in Highmore. At that time, he introduced his company to the nearly 50 people in attendance and described the company's desire to continue with the project that includes the construction of 27 turbines in South Dakota. The project includes 150 construction jobs for four to six months and three to four permanent jobs (all using local labor and equipment as much as possible), annual landowner payments, a potential for tourism and a multiplier effect for the businesses within the city of Highmore.
Ponder stressed that his company is committed to the people of Hyde County and wants to be here for the long-stay to develop, construct and operate in the county.
"I think we have the basis for an overall business deal that will work for everyone," he commented.
He asked that the Commissioners attend the legislative committee meeting to discuss the legislation to be presented dealing with the project, but more importantly to make a trip to the Dept. of Revenue and visit with their staff and the representatives of Basin Electric to have input into the legislation.
Discussion was held on the property tax reduction being sort to aid in securing this project, as well as the differences in building the project in South Dakota, as compared to North Dakota's half of the project.
The conclusion of Ponder's presentation included the statement that, "If Hyde County doesn't want this project, FPL Energy will leave." The Commissioners assured Ponder that Hyde County does want this project, but that they have some concerns about the taxation issues, which they hope to get clarified in Pierre. Larry Kerr and Bob Bawdon agreed to meet with officials in Pierre Wednesday morning.
In other business, discussion was held . . . (no further wind energy information was included in this article).
This article appeared in the Jan 30, 2003 issue of the Highmore Herald