[0:06] here. >> Road

[0:08] » here. >> We have a quorum. Thank you very much.

[0:20] We now will be continuing our public hearing from where we left off on July

[0:23] 20th. As stated in our last meeting, one of the duties of the plan commission is

[0:27] to conduct public hearings in order to listen to and record the testimony of

[0:31] the public whenever the city considers requests, including a zoning map

[0:36] amendment, otherwise known as resoning, approval of a special use, and variance

[0:41] requests. For everyone in the room tonight, so we understand exactly how

[0:45] the process works, the citizens on the planning and zoning board, which are the

[0:49] individuals on the stage to my right, are appointed positions. We are not

[0:54] elected officials. We are appointed recommendation board that conducts

[0:57] public hearings for the city of Plano. Once we've conducted the public hearing

[1:02] of this subject, we will then make a recommendation to the city of Plano

[1:06] council which is comprised of elected alderman and the mayor. They will have

[1:10] the final vote for or against the petitioner's request regarding this

[1:14] public hearing tonight. Tonight we'll begin with the testimony

[1:18] portion of our public hearing. Plano Skies has respectfully ended their

[1:23] overall presentation and we have cross-examined their representatives and

[1:27] experts. We now will start tonight with the interested parties and their

[1:31] testimony. All interested parties are invited to approach and speak tonight

[1:36] and provide testimony or witnesses or documents on their behalf in support of

[1:41] or against the Plano Sky application. All taxing bodies here tonight that wish

[1:48] to speak as interested parties may also do so, but we do ask that you provide

[1:53] one representative to provide the testimony on your behalf of your entity.

[1:57] If you wish to speak tonight during the public hearing as an interested party,

[2:01] you must first sign up at the public hearing interested party registration

[2:06] sheet which is located on the on the table outside the auditorium doors.

[2:11] Interested parties are defined as all owners of record within 250 ft in each

[2:16] direction of the location in which the property is located and who have

[2:21] received a certified letter about this hearing. Also, that includes any taxing

[2:25] bodies or units of local government including school districts in which the

[2:30] subject property is located and the owners and occupants of the other

[2:33] property in which may be affected and are invited to attend by the planning

[2:37] commission. If you wish to speak tonight and have not yet registered on the sheet

[2:41] outside the door, please do so while I continue to describe the procedure for

[2:45] tonight. Additionally, the last half an hour of

[2:48] each scheduled session has been set aside for comments by the general public

[2:53] of up to three minutes per speaker. This part of the evening will be open to

[2:57] anyone who wishes to approach the podium to speak to the commission. We will have

[3:01] guidelines and procedures in place for public comment portion of our evening

[3:06] and I'll be reading those closer to the time before we begin that portion of the

[3:10] evening. We encourage you also to sign up for the public comment signup sheet

[3:14] if you wish to speak during public comment and we'll call for those

[3:18] comments in order that you signed up. With the completion of the Plano Sky

[3:22] full proposal, we now tonight will move into the testimony of the interested

[3:28] parties both for and against the petition. They will be able to come up

[3:32] and speak up here in front to the microphones in the order based upon

[3:37] those signed up on the interested registration sheet.

[3:42] Following testimony by interested parties, the Plano Skies petitioner and

[3:46] the commission may also ask members of the interested parties at the

[3:49] microphone. Upon completion of the evidence and

[3:53] testimony by the interested parties, Plano's Guys may have the opportunity to

[3:58] rebuttal any testimony in opposition subject subject again to

[4:03] cross-examination by the interested parties and back and forth. So, um,

[4:08] we will, you know, get through that as we go depending on how many people are

[4:12] speaking. When there is no further testimony, the hearing will then be

[4:17] moved to close. Once the public hearing is officially closed, whether tonight or

[4:22] at a future date, the city staff and consultants will offer their comments

[4:26] based on the testimony that we've heard over the last few weeks at these

[4:29] meetings and consider the comments of other entities such as other units of

[4:34] local government. and then we'll proceed to discuss and vote on the

[4:38] representative items sought by Plano Skies. The commission will discuss and

[4:44] take its vote in recommendation in and take its recommendation to writing to

[4:49] the city council. Although the public hearing portion will eventually be

[4:53] closed, we will always let you know when the next meeting is and the location.

[4:57] And even with the public hearing closed, you're more than welcome to attend our

[5:00] meetings to hear the discussions and decisions of the plan commission. We

[5:04] always offer a 30 minute public comment at the end of all of our meetings,

[5:08] regardless if it's a public hearing or not.

[5:12] Please be concise in your testimony tonight. If your point has already been

[5:16] made during the hearing, it is not necessary to repeat it. Each item

[5:19] addressed and each point made is recorded and considered as the

[5:22] commission makes its findings and recommendations on this matter. When it

[5:27] is your turn to testify, please approach the front aisle and speak directly into

[5:31] the microphone so that you may be heard for the record. State your name and

[5:35] spell your last name for the reporter and indicate if you're representing an

[5:39] entity and also please give your address. If you speak after your initial

[5:44] testimony, please give your name each time for the record. This is the only

[5:48] public hearing this evening on the agenda which addresses petitions for

[5:52] reszoning of properties currently in Plano. annexation and reszoning of

[5:57] properties outside of Plano, special use permitting for a groundmounted solar

[6:02] farm energy system, and variances to our existing city codes. With that being

[6:08] said, my goal every time we meet is to ensure that everybody feels like they

[6:12] have the opportunity to be heard and I respectfully ask that all parties

[6:16] respect my commission members and guidelines that we've put in place for

[6:19] this public hearing. I will not tolerate any disrespectful behavior and will be

[6:24] asked to leave if necessary. I do need a motion on the floor to reopen the public

[6:29] hearing.

[6:33] » So moved. >> Uh motion by Mr. Routder to reopen the

[6:37] public hearing. I need a second. >> Second.

[6:40] » Seconded by Mr. Carter. Roll call. >> Router.

[6:44] » Yes. >> Carter.

[6:47] » Yes. >> Brauml.

[6:49] » Yes. Riddle, >> yes.

[6:52] » Rodrig, >> yes.

[6:54] » Okay, public hearing is reopened. Um, as I explained earlier, this will begin the

[7:00] testimony portion of our interested parties, which I do see that we have a

[7:04] list here. Um, before we start that, we are good with

[7:09] moving on to testimony. Yep. Okay.

[7:15] I've been provided with uh this evening's signup sheet for interested

[7:19] party registration. Uh I'll note that um for one entity, there are two

[7:25] individuals signed up specifically for Little Rock Township. I believe that

[7:30] Trusty Henderson and Trusty Light have both signed up um for purposes of

[7:36] brevity. Could that be accomplished through one of you if you're

[7:39] representing the same entity? >> Representing the same entity. You're not

[7:44] representing the same entity. Okay, then I'll I'll I'll start with the first name

[7:48] on the list, Jonathan Henderson.

[8:02] » Please uh approach the microphone and state your name, please.

[8:08] » Jonathan Henderson. >> Mr. Henderson, can you raise your right

[8:10] hand and repeat after me? Do you s or do you solemnly swear or affirm uh that the

[8:16] testimony that you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and

[8:19] nothing but the truth? >> Yes, sir.

[8:21] » Um and which entity are you representing this evening?

[8:24] » Little Rock Township. >> Okay. And you are a currently elected

[8:28] trustee of the township? >> Yes, sir.

[8:30] » Okay. Thank you. >> Good evening, everybody. Uh as a fellow

[8:36] public servant, I'd like to address this board and the city of Plano alderman

[8:39] during this time of testimony. We as public servants must remember who we

[8:44] serve. The people. We don't serve attorneys. We don't even serve other

[8:48] government. We serve the people. Our founding fathers set this nation up in a

[8:52] very particular manner. The basis of it is this. The people have all political

[8:57] power and us as public servants need to understand that the people are our

[9:01] masters. I didn't get elected to make decisions for the people. I got elected

[9:05] to carry out their wishes. You likewise have been appointed to this commission

[9:09] and the same is true for you. With that said, I'd like to review two very

[9:13] important words with their proper definition. The first word is

[9:16] constitution. The Black's Law Dictionary, fourth edition, defines

[9:20] constitution as follows. Constitution in American law, the written instrument

[9:25] agreed upon by the people of the union or of a particular state, as the

[9:28] absolute rule of action and decision for all departments and officers of the

[9:32] government in respect to all the points covered by it, which must control until

[9:36] it shall be changed by the authority which established it, and an opposition

[9:40] to which any act or ordinance of any such department or officer is null and

[9:44] void. I hope you can see how important this definition is. First of all, you

[9:49] are convened as an appointed public board. Right now, you're acting as

[9:52] public servants in an office of public trust. You have a duty to uphold and

[9:56] defend the Constitution of this state above any attorney's council or even

[10:00] what the mayor or alderman may tell you. It's an obligation and duty. Notice what

[10:05] this definition says. Quote, "It is the absolute rule of action." End quote. For

[10:10] all points covered by it, which must control your decision-making process.

[10:14] Now, let's pause there for a moment. The Illinois Constitution's preamble in

[10:18] Article 1, Section 1 clearly outline that the entire purpose of government is

[10:21] to protect the people's rights, property, and their community.

[10:24] Therefore, in spite of whatever any solar company may tell you or an

[10:28] attorney may tell you, your decision must be determined by the Constitution

[10:31] first. Before you even entertain what a state statute may or may not say, the

[10:36] Constitution controls your decision-making. Remember, the people

[10:39] don't elect or appoint public servants to be their rulers or to make decisions

[10:42] for them. We as public servants must first consider the text of the

[10:46] constitution as being the people's expressed will and the people have

[10:49] clearly expressed that their rights and property are paramount for the entire

[10:53] existence of government. Now let's look at the second part of that definition.

[10:57] It is the duty and obligation of every public servant from the dog catcher to

[11:00] the governor in any department of government that would be you and this

[11:03] board to stand in opposition to any act that is contrary to the constitution.

[11:08] This shouldn't be confusing for even the most basic things in law. As you've

[11:12] heard multiple times, the people of Plano are the same people of Little Rock

[11:15] Township. Those people are our masters. You and I both have committed volunteer

[11:20] voluntarily to serve those masters in that capacity. So, I encourage you all

[11:24] to stand strong for the people which you are obligated to serve. They expressed

[11:28] their will with the township's ordinance prohibition for commercial solar

[11:32] projects. I encourage you all to reject this proposal based upon that very

[11:35] ordinance because the people express their collective will with that

[11:38] ordinance. And if there is any court case or litigation that comes from this

[11:42] situation, your own defense lies within that very ordinance. As government has

[11:47] so often used this statement for its own benefit instead of the people's benefit,

[11:50] your hands are tied. There's nothing you can or should do but simply state,

[11:55] quote, "based upon the Little Rock Township ordinance prohibiting

[11:58] commercial solar installations within the township, our hands are tied and we

[12:02] must reject this proposal and vote no." End quote. You see how simple that is?

[12:06] The people already protected and empowered you to say no. And it's your

[12:09] duty and obligation as you sit in a seat of public trust as a servant of the

[12:13] people. No need to talk about BMS or screening or economic impact. None of

[12:17] that matters. Only the people's will matters. And they've already expressed

[12:20] in both in this constitution and have doubled down with the township

[12:23] ordinance. Truth be told, they shouldn't have even had to make the ordinance in

[12:27] the first place since, as I stated before, the entire purpose of government

[12:30] expressed right in Article 1, Section 1 plainly tells us it is to protect the

[12:34] people's property. If we simply return to the first principles of the

[12:37] constitutional principles, these hearings wouldn't have been necessary in

[12:40] the first place. Finally, I'd like to define another important word, which is

[12:44] amendable. The Black Law Dictionary defines it as subject to answer to the

[12:48] law, accountable, responsible, liable to punishment, also means tractable that

[12:53] may easily be led or governed. So, what the law is, the highest law, which us

[12:59] public servants are accountable to. It's the state constitution. We are liable to

[13:03] punishment if we don't follow it. We don't need an attorney or judge to tell

[13:06] us what it is. We read it. We obey it. And if there's a time of accountability

[13:10] that comes upon any of us for our actions, that's the very document that

[13:14] protects or condemns us. But don't miss the second part that we are to be easily

[13:18] led or governed. Remember, in this nation of America, the people are not

[13:22] governed. It's us, the public servants, which are governed and which are

[13:25] amendable to the people, not the other way around. That word amenable is a

[13:29] compound word. It's the word amen, which is a Bible term that means let it be so.

[13:33] And the word able, which means we as public servants are pre-authorized or

[13:37] able to follow the people's will. The people have empowered us to be quickly

[13:40] in agreement with them, not corporations or attorneys council. Remember, in each

[13:45] court case, there's an attorney that ends up being proven right and one

[13:48] that's proven wrong. The people of this community have spoken to you and me.

[13:52] First through our written constitution, secondly through the township ordinance

[13:56] prohibition, and thirdly here with multiple public testimonies. Your duty

[14:00] is not to be amenable to attorneys, to unions, to corporate entities, or even

[14:04] to the state government. Your duty and sole purpose is to be amenable to the

[14:09] people of this community, which includes the township and the ordinance which the

[14:13] people enacted. So unless or until that ordinance gets challenged in a court of

[14:16] law and overturned, we as public servants must obey it. It was written by

[14:21] the people, enacted by the people, and it's our duty and obligation as public

[14:24] servants to be amenable to do it. And I'd like to have this recorded in

[14:29] the meeting minutes for perpetual memorial.

[14:34] Can I give this to somebody up here? >> Sure. Um, actually, well, as far if we

[14:41] commission members have any questions Oh, sure.

[14:43] » to uh engage with. Um, and we'll kind of work through this testimony part because

[14:48] there are no tame there are no like time lengths for you. This is your time as

[14:53] interested parties to approach us. Yeah. >> And then ask questions. So

[14:58] » before you're uh sitting down. Yeah. Anything commission members to ask or

[15:04] » questions regarding that testimony?

[15:18] Savian, same question to you. As part of the process here and how we're going to

[15:22] do this is you also have an opportunity to then uh cross-examine or rebuttal to

[15:27] the interested party's testimony. And at this time, do you have anything that you

[15:31] wish to add? >> We we have no questions for this

[15:36] witness. I mean, as far as rebuttal, I think we would like to wait until all

[15:40] the interested parties have testified before we determine whether any rebuttal

[15:44] is necessary. >> I can we can do one rebuttal at the end

[15:48] if you so wish after all interested parties speak. Is that what I'm prefer?

[15:51] Yes. >> Okay.

[15:52] » Um, >> Mr. Henderson, were you were you asking

[15:56] to provide us with your your written comments to be part of part of the

[16:00] meeting minutes? We can do that. >> Okay. Should I leave them with somebody

[16:04] or Yep. >> Okay.

[16:12] Mr. Henderson, is there anything else that you wish to speak or

[16:16] » say, questions or anything else? >> Okay. All right. Well, I thank you for

[16:21] uh speaking tonight.

[16:25] [applause]

[16:28] » Next on the interested uh party registration sheet is Eric Light.

[16:44] Mr. Light, when you approach the uh the microphone, please can you state your

[16:48] name? >> Yep. Eric Light.

[16:50] » You spell your last name, please. >> L I G HT.

[16:53] » And Mr. Light, which interested party do you represent?

[16:56] » Myself. >> Are you an adjacent property owner?

[17:00] » I am. >> To the to the project?

[17:02] » I am. And what is that address? >> 15540 Miller Road.

[17:06] » Thank you. >> Yep. [clears throat]

[17:09] Um, we are still able to ask just some clarifying questions. Correct.

[17:13] » I'm sorry, what was that? >> I am able to still ask some clarifying

[17:16] questions of Savon. >> This is your opportunity to present your

[17:20] own uh either testimony or uh evidence.

[17:26] Uh it's not >> I won't speak for them.

[17:30] » Yep. >> Yeah. They might not answer, but for my

[17:33] personal commission opinion, I would like to still have you ask questions

[17:37] because it's still something that we as a commission will still be writing down

[17:40] when we have time to be able to approach the petitioner. So, any questions that

[17:45] are during your testimony, even though they might not answer, I still would

[17:48] like to have them on the record just for our own uh commission

[17:53] notes. >> Fair enough. And some of them I one of

[17:57] them in particular I think may have been asked before but I want to clarify it.

[18:01] Um projects in Illinois. How many projects do you have in Illinois and

[18:06] have had?

[18:13] The second piece of that is how many of those projects

[18:19] that you built or constructed are you still managing

[18:32] and then how many of those are in Illinois?

[18:40] Those are the only questions I had. reason I clarify these again and one of

[18:46] the largest issues that I have with this entire project

[18:51] is the investment in our community. I understand business-wise, corporate

[18:57] wise, you have to decide what you know what you're going to do to to make

[19:01] money. But when you're the person that brings

[19:04] that to the table, it's very important that there's an

[19:08] investment in the community beyond a monetary promise down the road. those

[19:12] types of things. There's been other projects over the years that have come

[19:16] to this community. I My wife grew up here.

[19:22] Uh we've been together over 30 years. We did enough to decide to come back and

[19:27] live in this community. We've been here over 20 years now. But I remember other

[19:32] projects that were in here. [clears throat] Menards, you know, great

[19:36] for the community. There was opposition for that. Lots of jobs to our community.

[19:41] tax base. I think they're the highest if I remember correctly from one of the

[19:47] experts. There's a a large buyin to our community with Menard's. I'm going to

[19:53] contrast that with another project. Years and years ago in the 90s, they

[19:57] wanted to put a racetrack out here. A lot of individuals that live here,

[20:01] you'll remember that. That that project ended up getting pushed out of our town

[20:06] and it went down to Juliet. it it was supposed to be one of the

[20:12] largest NASCAR racetracks. All of this money for the community, all these

[20:15] things, that project down there, that that business is still there from my

[20:21] understanding is a shell of what it used to be. Um the the number of events that

[20:27] they do at that facility is substantially less from my understanding

[20:31] of what it was going to be.

[20:36] this is, you know, 30 years down the road from when that project was talked

[20:40] about, you know, and I think a lot of people are glad that it didn't end up

[20:43] here, especially for the amount of ground that it was going to take from

[20:47] our community. Um, I am not against solar.

[20:52] I'm an electrician. I support our, you know, our our laborers. I support our

[20:59] electricians. I support our uh excavate excavators, you know. Uh

[21:05] they're a huge part of our community. They've helped me build my life. But it

[21:10] is they helped me build my life to be able to choose the type of community

[21:13] that I wanted to live in. And that community is should be driven by the

[21:18] people who live in that community and not by outside sources. It's great.

[21:24] Bring something to the table. We decide if it benefits our community or not, not

[21:29] outside places. So, I just um I am not in support of the project

[21:37] um for a lot of the the reasons that I just

[21:41] talked about. Um I'm concerned about the return on the investment and the future

[21:46] of our community and also the ability for the people of our community to help

[21:51] drive what happens in this town uh and in this township. Uh we talked Yeah,

[21:58] I'll leave it at that. Thank you very much.

[22:02] » Thank you, Eric. [applause] Um, commission members, any questions or

[22:10] comments for Mr. Le?

[22:15] » Same to petitioner. >> We don't have any questions.

[22:20] » Thank you. >> Thank you so much.

[22:25] Uh next party interested party signing on the registration sheet is John Wikes.

[22:31] » I'm going to pass u speak tonight.

[22:39] » You are also if you do feel inclined to speak later at the public comment is

[22:43] also an option or at the end of the list of interested parties.

[22:49] » Uh next on the list is Mike Bernett.

[22:57] Please come to the uh microphone and state your name, please.

[23:01] » Michael Bernett. >> Can you spell your last name, please?

[23:04] » B U R N T. >> And Mr. Bernett, your address?

[23:08] » 14247 Sears Road. >> And that's a property that's immediately

[23:12] adjacent to the project. >> Yes, it is.

[23:14] » Thank you. >> Um, thank you for your time tonight. I

[23:18] do have a lot of stuff to cover. So I printed off my complete statement for

[23:23] all of you if I may approach.

[23:43] So, as I already said, my name is Mike Bernett and I live in Little Rock

[23:48] Township, not within the city limits, but my property abuts the proposed solar

[23:53] project and it will cause injury to my private property.

[23:57] All people who live inside the city of Plano also live in Little Rock Township.

[24:02] We are the same people. We share the same streets, the same schools, the same

[24:06] farms, and the same future. We are at a watershed moment, not only

[24:12] for this city, this township, but also for this nation.

[24:17] I've been to some of these hearings. I've heard some of your questions. I can

[24:20] tell many of you are concerned about how these solar projects will affect this

[24:24] community. But I want to offer hope to you and the people of this community.

[24:29] We all feel it. Something just isn't right in America anymore. This isn't the

[24:34] nation or the state we grow up in. Something is a miss. Instead of being

[24:40] a nation of freedom and liberty, we become a nation that has been overrun by

[24:44] corporate interests and bureaucrats who have centralized power. Something our

[24:49] founding fathers warned us about. Yet here we are celebrating 250 years as a

[24:54] great republic. But it's on the brink of falling into tyranny.

[24:59] Thankfully, our founding fathers when they divorced England had the wisdom to

[25:02] institute written instruments called constitutions

[25:06] that are the highest law of the land. Yet, these instruments don't stand

[25:10] alone. They're based upon something called the fundamental principles of law

[25:15] which many of us people have been learning because for many generations

[25:19] now they have been not been taught to us but we have found them and we have

[25:23] recurred to them just as our Illinois constitution warns about in article 1

[25:29] section 23 and I quote a frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles

[25:34] of civil government is necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty. These

[25:39] blessings cannot endure unless the people recognize their corresponding

[25:43] individual obligations and responsibilities.

[25:47] Allow me to explain. Liberty is the defining term of this nation. Liberty

[25:52] means to be free free from external control. In order to maintain that

[25:57] liberty which has been slowly eroded for many decades now, there must be a

[26:02] frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of law. What are those

[26:06] fundamental principles? They are the substructure of our constitutions. They

[26:11] are the maxims that are [clears throat] the foundation of our constitutions,

[26:14] both state and federal. Yet for many years now, attorneys and legislators

[26:19] have been taught how to hide or ignore those principles, skipping right past

[26:23] them to statutes. Yet, a statute is not the fundamental law of this nation, nor

[26:28] this state. Now, I'm willing to bet that you've had

[26:33] some attorneys give you counsel. I will also bet that with any of that council,

[26:38] they have only cited statutes to you, but likely they haven't cited any

[26:42] Illinois constitutional articles to you. And I'll guarantee they haven't cited

[26:46] any maximums of law to you. Why is that? It is because at least a generation now,

[26:52] the law schools no longer teach the constitutions nor the fundamental maxims

[26:56] of law. They may briefly go over the US Constitution, then get right into

[27:01] statutes. Thank God our Supreme Court is now correcting these decades long

[27:06] errors. So I'm going to cite some very important principles and constitutional

[27:10] articles to you right now. Illinois constitutional article one section one

[27:16] the very first statement in our constitution apart from the preamble.

[27:20] All men are by nature free and independent and have certain inherent

[27:24] and inalienable rights among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of

[27:28] happiness. To secure these rights and the protection of property, governments

[27:33] are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the

[27:37] governed. What does that mean? It means no matter

[27:41] what any attorney tells you, we are free people with rights that are guaranteed.

[27:45] And the whole purpose of government is to protect our rights and our property.

[27:50] Book that in your mind. Bookmark that in your mind for a moment. Now, what is

[27:54] this hearing about? It's about property and commercial land use. But please

[28:00] understand that commercial land use is public not private and our private

[28:05] properties are the entire basis of governmental existence. Private property

[28:10] rights were the primary of many reasons of our founding fathers decided to

[28:15] divorce England. That's why in every state constit constitution you'll see

[28:19] similar statement in article one or two. It is paramount.

[28:24] We the people learned this, but we have learned and discovered so much more of

[28:28] why our state is in absolute disarray. Way back in 1848,

[28:34] our ancestors adopted a new Illinois constitution, abolishing the original

[28:39] 1818 constitution. That's important to remember. They abolished the 1818

[28:45] constitution. The main focus of the new constitution was to institute each

[28:51] county to be able to choose its form of government. And in 1849,

[28:56] Kendall County chose a county under township form of government. And Little

[29:02] Rock Township was formed. That was prior to the establishment of the city of

[29:06] Plano. This is important to understand because

[29:09] that fundamentally changed how Kendall County functioned.

[29:14] Instead of having a board of three county commissioners with this new

[29:18] county under township form, it eliminated those county commissioners

[29:21] and instead the county was made up a board of supervisors. The supervisor

[29:26] elected from each of the nine townships made up the county board of supervisors.

[29:30] This is important an important point that I will come back to in a moment.

[29:37] Then in 1870 after the Civil War, Illinois adopted a new constitution

[29:42] without abolishing the 1848 one, but rather they continued certain aspects of

[29:48] it, namely the townships and county under township form. But in this new 187

[29:55] 1870 constitution, which was our third, the people adopted a very important

[29:59] article. It's in the legislative section about the state general assembly. I'm

[30:04] not going to read the whole section, but point to a couple of relevant parts.

[30:09] Now, don't dismiss this just because it is the 1870 Constitution because right

[30:13] after I'm going to show you the expressed text of our current 1970

[30:18] Constitution that continues these provisions. They're still relevant.

[30:23] The Illinois 1870 Constitution, Article 4, Section 22, it says in part, "The

[30:30] General Assembly shall not pass local or specific laws in any of the following

[30:36] enumerated cases." That is to say, regulating county and

[30:42] township affairs. What we're doing here tonight is most

[30:46] certainly a township affair, as all the people in Plano are also in the

[30:50] township. Therefore, any state statute that attempts to regulate the business

[30:55] within the township, which would include this commercial solar project, is

[30:59] expressly prohibited in the 1870 constitution.

[31:05] Providing for the election of members of the board of supervisors in township.

[31:10] This means that the general assembly can't tell counties and townships how to

[31:14] elect their board of supervisors. Do you recall what I explained before that our

[31:18] Kendall County board used to consist of supervisor form from each township, not

[31:23] separately elected persons?

[31:28] The state cannot grant to any corporation, association, or individual

[31:33] any special or exclusive privilege, immunity, or franchise whatsoever. This

[31:39] means that the state general assembly cannot force any township, county, or

[31:44] city to allow any special privilege to conduct business. And that is exactly

[31:49] where you have been deliberating over these hearings because corporate

[31:53] entities are not the same as people and their private property. The moment

[31:58] someone wants to use utilize their private property for commercial

[32:02] purposes, in this case for commercial solar, they have to get permission from

[32:06] the people via their government. It is a privilege to utilize property for

[32:10] commercial prop purposes, not a right. Now, I know what you're thinking. Yeah,

[32:16] but that's the 1870 Constitution, and we're now using the 1970 Constitution.

[32:21] So, let me read you a little known part of the current 1970 Constitution called

[32:25] the transition schedule. It's at the very end of the Constitution, and nobody

[32:30] paid attention to it until we discovered it.

[32:33] The preamble of the transition schedule says, "The following schedule provisions

[32:38] shall remain part of this constitution until their terms have been executed.

[32:43] Once each year, the attorney general shall review the following provisions

[32:48] and certify to the Secretary of State which, if any, have been executed. Any

[32:53] provisions so certified shall thereafter be removed from the schedule and no

[32:58] longer published as part of this 1970 constitution.

[33:03] That means that any of the 10 provisions in the transition schedule remain. They

[33:07] aren't removed. Well, section five is not removed.

[33:11] Also, section 9 remains.

[33:16] Section 5C says, "Townships in existence on the effective date of this

[33:20] constitution are continued until consolidated, merged, divided, or

[33:25] dissolved in accordance with section five of article 7. That provision

[33:30] expressly sets that a referendum must be used to change the township and the main

[33:35] body of the constitution." Article 7, section B3B says, "The General Assembly

[33:41] by law shall provide methods available to all counties for the election of

[33:46] county board members. No county other than Cook County may change its method

[33:51] of electing board members except as approved by countywide referendum.

[33:58] This means that in 1971 when the state general assembly wrote statutes that

[34:03] made the Kendall County Board of Supervisors believe they had to change

[34:07] form away from a county under township form, it was unconstitutional.

[34:12] There was no referendum and our local government just changed itself without

[34:16] the expressed will of the people. Now back to the transition schedule for one

[34:22] very important point. Text of section 9, general transition.

[34:29] The rights and duties of all public bodies shall remain as if this

[34:32] constitution had not been adopted with the exception of such changes that are

[34:36] contained in this constitution. All laws, ordinances, regulations, and rules

[34:41] of court not contrary to or inconsistent with the pro provisions of this

[34:47] constitution shall remain in force until they shall expire by their own

[34:52] limitation or shall be altered or repealed pursuant to this constitution.

[34:57] All officers filing any filling any office by election or appointment shall

[35:03] continue to exercise the duties thereof until their offices have been abolished

[35:07] or their successors selected and qualified in accordance with this

[35:12] constitution or laws enact enacted pursuant to what does that mean? It

[35:18] means if the current 1970 constitution didn't expressly abolish or change

[35:24] something then the 1870 constitutions provisions remain. Now remember when I

[35:30] said to bookmark that the 1818 constitution was abolished. That's

[35:34] because constitutions have expressed provisions. The text says what it wants

[35:39] what it says and it means what it means. Now, you're probably wondering why I

[35:44] just gave that constitutional history lesson and how it applies to

[35:48] tonight's hearing. So, please allow me to explain the connection.

[35:52] After the people discovered that the existing county form of government is

[35:56] wrong, we also discovered that the people who are the creators of

[36:00] government, by the way, can call a special township meeting. In this type

[36:05] of meeting, it bypasses our elected servants altogether. Picture it just

[36:09] simply like a company board. Sure, the owner of a company can let his employees

[36:15] have meetings and handle business for it. But if he owns the thing, just like

[36:19] the people own our government, his employ if employees aren't doing

[36:24] what he wants or what he's told him to do, he can bypass them and take care of

[36:28] it. Now connect that concept to a county under township form because with a

[36:34] county under township the township supervisors sit also as the county board

[36:38] of supervisors. This brings the entire county directly amanable to the people

[36:44] immediately if the people simply call for a special meeting to handle their

[36:48] business directly rather than going through their servant representatives.

[36:53] On June 26th, 2025, the people of Little Rock Township held a lawful special

[36:58] meeting and passed resolution and ordinance number 2025-06-26.

[37:04] That ordinance does one clear thing. It prohibits commercial wind and solar

[37:08] energy facilities on public and commercial property inside this

[37:13] township. It does not touch a homeowner who wants to put panels on his own roof

[37:17] for his own house. The ordinance says the Illinois Constitution protects

[37:22] private installations on private property from government regulation, but

[37:26] it's clearly for commercial installations such as this one that

[37:30] you've been deliberating. The people voted 45 to1. The ordinance

[37:35] is effective immediately. It declares that any prior zoning approvals by the

[37:39] Kendall County Board for commercial energy facilities are void from the

[37:43] beginning. void ab initio due to their prop

[37:47] improper form. It closes by reminding every government agent that they are

[37:52] servants and trustees accountable to the people and that the township stands

[37:56] ready to defend its constitutional autonomy.

[38:01] Because the people already enacted this prohibition, the city of Plano has no

[38:04] authority to consider or approve this project. The city of Plano is a

[38:09] municipal service provider. It is not the same as the body politic of the

[38:13] people of the township, which again, all of you on this board are people of

[38:17] Little Rock Township, whether you live inside the city limits or not.

[38:21] Sure, there's been some nuances of things such as roads. The city takes

[38:25] care of city roads and the township takes care of township roads, but that's

[38:29] why the township roads department is distinct from the township board.

[38:33] The correct and only lawful action is to deny it on the specific grounds of

[38:37] Little Rock Township Ordinance 2025-06-26.

[38:42] That is the cleanest, safest, and strongest ground available to this

[38:46] board. You do not have to invent new reasons or take any personal risks. You

[38:50] are all protected by what the people of the township did at the special meeting.

[38:55] You simply recognize the law the people already made. If you don't believe that,

[38:59] then ask one any one of your attorneys to swear by affidavit where the people

[39:03] are wrong. They won't do it. I guarantee it. They can't because we only use the

[39:09] highest law, the constitutions, and with maxims. We actually hope someone is

[39:16] arrogant enough to try to take this before a judge because judges will

[39:20] understand what we have done. And whether you know it or not, the city,

[39:24] the county, and the state already agree with us because we sent them official

[39:28] notices and affidavit and the ordinance itself, and none have rebutted it, which

[39:34] means they agree with us. I understand that most of you on this zoning board

[39:38] are regular people trying to do a different difficult job. You are not

[39:42] constitutional scholars. You are not career attorneys. You rely on the advice

[39:46] you are given. I am not here to attack you. I'm here to offer you protection.

[39:51] The safest place for any public serv servant right now is under the people's

[39:55] enactment which was done with constitutional authority.

[39:59] We urge you to stand on the township ordinance and recommend denial because

[40:04] the people of Little Rock Township have already prohibited commercial solar on

[40:08] commercial property. That single ground shields you and keeps

[40:12] immunity for you. It puts the burden where it belongs on anyone who wants to

[40:16] challenge the people's act. And we are inviting that challenge. The people of

[40:21] Little Rock Township dare the county, the solar companies, the city, or the

[40:25] state of Illinois to take this to court because if they do, they will be waring

[40:30] against the people and the Constitution. Again, that's something a righteous

[40:35] judge will be unwilling to do. We welcome it. We did everything lawfully

[40:39] and peacefully and out in the open. We sent notices, affidavit, and cease and

[40:44] desist letters all the way to Springfield and the governor's office.

[40:48] We received zero responses, zero challenges, zero rebuttals. That silence

[40:53] is acquiescence. The people have spoken and no public servant has even bothered

[40:58] to answer. This case is done before it even starts if they were to attempt a

[41:02] suit. This is about far more than solar fields. This strikes at the heart of

[41:07] centralized power that the governor and Springfield now claim over every local

[41:12] decision that has given way to government tyranny. That power was never

[41:16] supposed to exist in this form. All political power in this nation

[41:21] begins with the people. The people created the state. The people created

[41:25] the township. Then the people throughout the 1870 Illinois constitution blocked

[41:29] the general assembly from meddling in county and township affairs. Article 4,

[41:35] section 22 of the 1870 Constitution says, "The General Assembly shall not

[41:40] pass local or special laws regulating county and township affairs."

[41:47] That prohibition did not disappear. Elements of the 1870 Constitution remain

[41:51] alive through the transition schedule of the 1970 Constitution. The flow of power

[41:56] is simple. The people are the supreme lawgivers in this nation and state.

[42:00] Everything else is downstream and the city of Plano is subject to the township

[42:05] in this county. Although we recognize nobody has known that for 70 years.

[42:10] Under the proper form of government in Kendall County, the county under

[42:13] township form, each township elects a supervisor and those supervisors form

[42:18] the county board of supervisors. That is how local government was designed to

[42:21] work after the people adopted the township organization in 1849.

[42:26] The change that happened around 1970 and 1971 was never put to a proper

[42:31] referendum of the people as the constitution required. The structure was

[42:35] altered without the people's consent and is therefore void. That is why the

[42:39] township's authority still stands superior in these matters.

[42:44] This is not fringe theory. Following the fundamental law and the constitutions of

[42:47] Illinois and the United States is not fringe. It is the law of the land. The

[42:52] United States Supreme Court has been saying the same thing out loud. In 2024,

[42:57] court overturned the Chevron doctrine. For 40 years, lawyers and agencies were

[43:01] taught that courts must defer to whatever novel interpretation the

[43:05] administrative state invented. That era is over and Illinois is being restored

[43:11] and Little Rock Township appears to be ground zero. Courts must now decide what

[43:16] the law actually says. Justice Gorsuch has been clear. We have allowed these

[43:21] novel theories for far too long and we are returning all the way back to the

[43:25] Constitution is what he said a couple of weeks ago in

[43:29] one of the most recent Supreme Court decisions. What the people of Little

[43:33] Rock Township did is simply the same return to first principles.

[43:38] This principle reaches everything. Property taxes, school funding, zoning,

[43:42] and yes, even the ridiculous COVID lockdowns that treated free people like

[43:46] subjects. When local self-government is hollowed out, every decision migrates

[43:51] upward to Springfield and beyond. That is the real issue here. Solar is only

[43:56] the current battlefield. I'm happy to sit down one-on-one with

[44:00] any member of this board, any alderman or any county official along with your

[44:04] attorneys who want a calm, detailed explanation of how the 1870 provisions

[44:10] remain operative and why the flow of power still runs from the people

[44:14] outward. There is nothing mysterious about it once you follow the document.

[44:18] The plain language of the text cannot be refuted.

[44:23] We've already done what needed to be done lawfully, openly, and peacefully.

[44:28] The people enacted the prohibition. The people put everyone on notice. Now, the

[44:32] choice is simple. This board should recommend denial tonight, and it should

[44:35] do so on the clear ground of Little Rock Township Ordinance 2025-06-26.

[44:42] Then the alderman will decide whether they will uphold the people's law or

[44:46] knowingly set it aside. There is a vast difference between breaking the law in

[44:51] ignorance and doing it after clear notice while holding a position of

[44:54] public trust. That is malice. We the people still own this township,

[45:00] this city, this county, and this state. Not the solar companies, not the

[45:03] bureaucrats, not the attorneys who've been trained for decades in a system the

[45:08] Supreme Court itself is dismantling. The people are taking back peacefully

[45:14] what we have and we have already taken the first lawful step. Vote to deny this

[45:21] project based on the township's ordinance. That is the right action, the

[45:25] safe action, the only action consistent with the fundamental law. Then put the

[45:30] pressure back on to the city council to vote this down based on the same. They

[45:35] should have never taken this up in the first place. We say this all in peace

[45:40] and the love of Christ that you may do good works worthy of service. And we've

[45:45] extended as much grace as possible to help you all understand and to guide you

[45:49] to the correct conclusion. We are not threatening. We are simply giving notice

[45:54] so you are no longer confused by the legal system that has been constructed

[45:58] contrary to the constitutions. So the real question is who is willing to go

[46:03] against the people and the constitutions? Thank you.

[46:08] » [applause]

[46:15] » Commission members, any comments or questions from supernet?

[46:21] I [snorts] personally really thank you. I have been sitting here um oftentimes

[46:26] in public hearing because of the cross-examination and the procedures and

[46:31] the steps that we're taking as a commission to make the meetings run

[46:34] smooth. it inhibits us to where normally we would ask questions and be able to

[46:40] dialogue back and forth. So there have been a lot of questions that I've had

[46:43] when you guys have spoke. So I really really appreciate the time and energy in

[46:48] producing this document for us to read um because oftentimes we don't you know

[46:54] in this particular step of the process are able to dialogue um to keep the

[46:59] public hearing going. So I do I do really appreciate that. Um,

[47:06] and I I do if I do have some questions, I would I wouldn't mind reaching out,

[47:10] you know, and asking you. >> I made some notes on here and so um

[47:16] that is very helpful. So, thank you very much for your presentation.

[47:22] Any further comments,

[47:26] » Savian? Any comments for Mr. Bernett? >> No questions.

[47:30] Thank you for your time. >> Okay. Thank you.

[47:34] [applause]

[47:40] » The next individual on the interested party registration sheet is Marcy

[47:44] Bernett.

[47:51] » Can you state your name, please? >> Marcy Bernett.

[47:54] » Can you spell your last name? >> B U R N E T.

[47:57] » Can you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the

[48:00] testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing

[48:04] about the truth? >> I do.

[48:05] » Are you an adjacent property owner to the project?

[48:09] » Yes. >> Okay. And your address?

[48:11] » 14247 Sears Road. >> Thank you.

[48:15] » Okay. I said I'd like to start by saying that

[48:18] we are a proud union home with most of our children in local trades. What I am

[48:24] about to say has nothing to do with keeping work from unions. This is about

[48:28] our home, family, and peace, not a 18-month job. Once mentioned in a

[48:34] meeting, someone said, "This project will bring revenue from the workers at

[48:38] local businesses. Most trade workers bring a lunch. There is nothing but

[48:42] empty promises and hope. We bought our home seven years ago. We put a lot into

[48:47] our property to make it a home place where our children want to bring their

[48:52] children that is not their childhood home, but rather grand the grandparents

[48:56] home. Our grandchildren love it. We're expecting our fifth and sixth as we

[49:01] speak. They all live in society. They can wander, explore, measure themselves

[49:07] against the corn, look at the grain bins across the fields, and see the best

[49:12] sunsets ever. Never a visit passes that someone does not mention how peaceful it

[49:17] is to be at our home, away from it all. I challenge one of the people who spoke

[49:22] at one of the meetings on wildlife um from Savon playing it down. We have

[49:28] deer, fox, squirrels, frogs, tree frogs, etc. And there are fish in the waterway

[49:34] that goes through the field, a natural habitat. We cannot let this build happen

[49:41] as that will all go away, die, and be gone from the area for generations.

[49:47] Never has someone gotten excited, well not somebody normal, about solar fields

[49:52] or concrete buildings in fencing in the middle of a corn field, but you will

[49:57] notice people talking about the crops growing. Look at how tall the corn is.

[50:02] Oh, there's beans in that field this year. It is refreshing. Someone spoke

[50:08] during the public time at the first meeting and made mention of growth and

[50:12] it is what we need, meaning the solar farm. wrong. Growth would be building

[50:18] the luxury estate homes that most of the area in question is already zoned for.

[50:24] That would be growth, life, and property taxes for many more years. A project

[50:29] like this will deter people from moving out this way due to an unhealthy eyesore

[50:35] to look at driving home after a long day. Shame on the land owner for trying

[50:40] to make a buck at the other people's expense.

[50:44] All the responses from Savon are so vague, if they even answer. Dancing

[50:50] around an answer that they know if they spoke the truth would add fuel to the

[50:55] fire. This is the absolute wrong project in our area, our fields, and in Plano.

[51:02] We are the people of Little Rock Township and we are strong and we will

[51:06] not allow this project. I ask that Plano not falter on the zoning and welcome a

[51:12] high-end developer to build nice homes in Plano to bring the proper revenues in

[51:18] to continue healthy growth. Please reject the requests of Savon and Black

[51:24] Dirt Farms.

[51:29] [applause]

[51:32] Commission members again any questions for Mrs. Barnett?

[51:42] No questions. >> Thank you very much.

[51:49] [applause]

[51:51] The next person on the interested party registration sheet is Chris Wikes.

[52:04] Once you approach the microphone, can you state your name, please? Spelling

[52:07] your last name. >> Uh, W Y Kes.

[52:11] » Your first name, >> Chris. Christine.

[52:14] » You raise your right hand, please. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the

[52:17] testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing

[52:20] but the truth? >> Yes.

[52:22] » Uh, are you an adjacent property owner to the project?

[52:25] » Yes. >> And that address?

[52:28] 14176 Sears Road. >> Thank you.

[52:32] » I am only wanting to make a statement to say that what Mike said is collectively

[52:40] spoke from all of us in the township. And I just want to reiterate that we did

[52:48] what we thought was constitutionally correct. We sent our affidavits. We were

[52:52] totally ignored. And when you totally ignore it, then you're saying that what

[53:00] we are presenting is correct. Uh so that is my only statement I want

[53:09] to make.

[53:17] » Commission members questions for Mrs. Weiss.

[53:20] » No, >> I do have one question. Uh, you

[53:24] mentioned affidavit. Were any of those reviewed? Uh,

[53:28] » you you mentioned affidavit. Were any of those reviewed or taken to legal counsel

[53:32] or a judge or anything like that? >> We sent our affidavits to the city

[53:39] council. I know you, the zoning board, did not receive it, but the city council

[53:46] all received it and uh we're just, you know, acting upon what

[53:54] we understand the constitution say. >> And did anyone reach out in response at

[54:01] any point? >> I I I

[54:04] » Oh, I'm sorry. Did anyone reach out in response to any point to any

[54:07] documentation sent? >> No one has reached out. no response

[54:10] whatsoever and ours were certified letters. So,

[54:17] in regards to the township and some of the I

[54:24] there was some um dialogue stated for any commercial installations, not

[54:30] private, but any commercial installations. Is that based on like a

[54:34] zoning or a size of solar that you guys are fighting against or you know

[54:40] petitioning against? I'm sorry I forgot my hearing aids at

[54:45] home and I really can't you know understand everything you're saying but

[54:50] you know this is 1500 acres of prime farm ground. Probably the best farm

[54:58] ground you're going to ever find in the whole United States.

[55:02] And they're saying it's still going to be protected by drilling these posts 8

[55:06] foot down into the ground when you know any farmer knows that when you disrupt

[55:11] farm ground it's affected for a while and you know who knows what we're going

[55:17] to have. uh they keep assuring us that these are totally safe but

[55:24] I question it and uh it's new technology.

[55:38] » Well, thank you Mrs. Wikes. >> Thank you.

[55:42] [applause] >> Yeah, no questions. Okay. Uh let's just

[55:48] uh let the record reflect that Savon indicated they had no questions of Miss

[55:52] Wes. Um next interested party on the registration sheet is Will Statman.

[56:02] » There's one more interested party.

[56:08] » Yes. Hi. Hello again. >> Please state your name. Spell your last

[56:10] name for the court reporter, please. >> Will Statman. That's S T A T M.

[56:15] » Mr. Mr. Tman, can you raise your right hand? Uh, do you solemnly swear or

[56:19] affirm that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole

[56:22] truth, and nothing but the truth? >> I do.

[56:24] » And, uh, your interested party entity is, uh, Black Dirt Farms LLC, Plano

[56:30] Farms LLC, and Crescent City Land Company LLC.

[56:34] » Thank you. >> Uh, so just to say it again, uh, my name

[56:38] is Will Statman. I represent the three LLC's in question where this project is

[56:43] located. Uh but we're not a big corporation. We're a family real estate

[56:47] business. There are just a few of us. And I'm here to share our perspective

[56:51] with you tonight. Uh for a little background on me, I

[56:56] started my career as an architect before I got into real estate. And I am a lead

[57:03] accredited professional. I've worked on many sustainable buildings and I care a

[57:08] lot about the environment and sustainability

[57:12] and building this solar project will be a dream come true for me. It's something

[57:16] that I really believe in. My family bought our first farm north of

[57:21] Plano about 15 years ago, and we have bought several more adjacent farms in

[57:26] the city and county since then. Some of the land was approved to be

[57:31] developed into more than 1,600 houses approximately 20 years ago. But since

[57:37] residential growth has been limited and no one has shown much interest in

[57:42] developing residential since we bought the land, we think solar is a better use

[57:46] for many reasons. We agreed to partner with Savion on this project about seven

[57:52] years ago because we think that utility scale solar is the highest and best use

[57:57] of our land. We also think it's a good thing for the city of Plano, the

[58:01] taxpayers, the school district, the other taxing bodies, and the labor

[58:07] unions. I've gotten to know Plano over the

[58:11] years, and it's a community that I think will benefit from the economic activity,

[58:17] jobs, and tax revenue created by the project.

[58:21] The annexation will expand the city by more than a thousand acres, which is uh

[58:27] nearly two square miles, which is incredible. It will invest several

[58:32] hundred million dollars in the city, create hundreds of well-paying union

[58:36] jobs, and generate tens of millions of dollars in property taxes. It will be a

[58:42] huge net positive for the city. I personally want the annexation to

[58:49] happen so the city will get the full benefits from the project, not just

[58:53] Kendall County. I have to say it's been really awesome

[58:57] to see so many people from the union support the project and listening to

[59:02] their personal statements has been really heartwarming. It makes me happy

[59:06] that we can help them make a good living. Uh we need to keep creating good

[59:12] jobs for both Illinois and Plano to prosper.

[59:17] Uh in America now we are currently in the middle of a new industrial

[59:22] revolution and it's powered by clean American energy and technology.

[59:29] The Plano Skies Energy Center is an opportunity for the city to participate

[59:36] in this economy of the future. The project will diversify the tax base

[59:41] and take pressure off the residential taxpayers in the city by bringing in

[59:46] commercial property tax dollars. Unlike new homes, the solar project will not

[59:52] strain the school district and city services.

[59:58] Uh, from the numbers I've seen, the Plano School District will get

[1:00:02] approximately $1 million per year from Plano Skies, or about $35 million over

[1:00:08] the life of the project. This money can be used to hire more teachers and

[1:00:12] improve the facilities. The project will be helping students as soon as it is up

[1:00:17] and running. Funding like this makes a real difference in graduation rates and

[1:00:22] lifetime success for students, and I know it'll make Plano a better

[1:00:26] community. When it's built, the solar project will

[1:00:31] be a clean and quiet neighbor. Plano spent about a year on its solar

[1:00:35] ordinance to make sure the project won't be loud or pollute the soil. The land

[1:00:40] has been farmed continuously for about two centuries, and letting the ground

[1:00:45] rest for several decades will actually be great for the soil's fertility.

[1:00:50] Scientists have extensively tested the impacts of solar panels on their

[1:00:54] surroundings and have repeatedly concluded the same thing that there are

[1:01:00] no chemicals from any component of a solar energy system that will leech into

[1:01:05] the soil. And I really think we should trust the scientists here.

[1:01:10] Solar is ultimately one of the cleanest land uses and forms of energy that we

[1:01:15] have. Personally, I would have no problems

[1:01:18] living next to a solar farm. Uh, this project has many benefits over housing

[1:01:23] and farming, including using less pesticides and herbicides, and it won't

[1:01:28] cause more noise or traffic. I would like you all to keep in mind

[1:01:32] that my family plans to own the land for the entire life of the project, and we

[1:01:38] wouldn't do solar here if we thought the land would be harmed or if we thought

[1:01:42] there was a better use. Over the past four years in

[1:01:47] collaboration with Savon, we have put a lot of work into mitigating the impacts

[1:01:52] of the project for our tenants and the neighbors. After listening to community

[1:01:57] feedback, Savon redesigned the project multiple times. They also listened to my

[1:02:03] concerns as a land owner. I think the most important change that

[1:02:07] was made to the project was to keep it entirely north of the existing KMED

[1:02:13] transmission line. While this made the project a funny shape, it allows us to

[1:02:18] reserve several hundred acres of our land for future residential expansion if

[1:02:23] the city wants it and if there is market demand for it.

[1:02:28] We're doing everything we can to reduce the impact on our tenants. And of the

[1:02:32] five farm houses on our land, no one is going to have to move for this project,

[1:02:38] which I am very, very proud of. I take this sort of thing really seriously and

[1:02:43] I don't want to disrupt anyone's life just for my business.

[1:02:48] I also want to mention that as land owners, we would prefer not to have any

[1:02:52] BMS. The land drains very well right now and we don't want to mess up the

[1:02:57] drainage and we don't want 40,000 truckloads of clay coming in from who

[1:03:02] knows where. The small visual difference just doesn't seem worth the tradeoff.

[1:03:08] Part of why Savon asked for the burm variance was actually a direct request

[1:03:13] from us. Uh we really care about the health of

[1:03:17] our land and the ability to return it to farming in several decades.

[1:03:22] Uh I also know the Rose and Winkles neighbors to the project uh to the north

[1:03:26] have requested not to have a burm as well in their application letter.

[1:03:31] Ultimately we want to be the best neighbors we can. So I look forward to

[1:03:34] working with the city and Savon to perfect the vegetative screening and

[1:03:39] community benefits to make this as nice a project as possible for everyone.

[1:03:44] In conclusion, I wouldn't give Savon the time of day if I didn't think it was a

[1:03:49] great thing for the city, the school district, the taxpayers, and anyone who

[1:03:54] likes having affordable electricity in their homes. I want to thank everyone

[1:03:59] with the city and plan commission for your hard work, and I'm happy to stay at

[1:04:04] the microphone to answer any questions you all may have. Thank you.

[1:04:10] [applause]

[1:04:18] Commission members, questions for Mr. Stratman.

[1:04:25] I have a question. Uh, you mentioned that you want to return the land to

[1:04:32] farming when it's done. Uh but you had mentioned previously

[1:04:37] 20 years ago you wanted to build 1,600 homes on it.

[1:04:40] » Uh we did not own the land uh 20 years ago. It was owned by Lakewood and uh

[1:04:46] that was the plan at the time. >> Okay. Thanks.

[1:04:58] Is all the land you own all the land in the proposed

[1:05:03] area? >> Yes. Uh all the land Savon is proposing

[1:05:07] to use is uh in our three LLC's. >> Thank you.

[1:05:17] » With the with the BMS, could you go a little more in depth as to your negative

[1:05:22] thoughts? um on the BMS just a little bit more. Is it you you mentioned clay

[1:05:28] » or could you go a little more in depth on your stance behind that particularly

[1:05:35] um the negative opinion of that?

[1:05:40] » Yeah. So, uh like I said, the land drains really well right now. Uh it's

[1:05:45] generally a north to south drainage and uh putting berms around uh some of these

[1:05:52] huge parcels could essentially turn it into a lake uh and it could impact uh

[1:05:58] some of the neighbors. It could uh contaminate the soil if it eventually

[1:06:04] becomes farming again. um you know having a burm I don't think is a a very

[1:06:10] big visual difference from just having good vegetative screening and like I

[1:06:15] said this would be outside soil coming in and uh the soil that's out there

[1:06:20] right now is really high quality and so uh we don't want to contaminate it.

[1:06:29] » Was there at any time any other solar companies that you looked at or have you

[1:06:32] always worked with Savon originally? I know that's where the petition came

[1:06:36] from, but in previous >> history, were there any other companies

[1:06:39] that you worked with or was Savian the one from the beginning? I think you said

[1:06:43] seven seven years ago. >> So, uh I'm going to estimate that uh we

[1:06:49] had between 300 and 500 different solar companies reach out to us because this

[1:06:55] is a really good site for solar. Uh pretty much everyone agrees uh there

[1:07:01] aren't many good sites left for solar projects and this is a phenomenal site.

[1:07:05] Uh we probably had

[1:07:09] more intense dialogue with about a dozen solar firms. Um and uh we decided to

[1:07:17] work with Savon because they were very reasonable people. Uh they're honest. uh

[1:07:23] they were willing to uh work with us uh basically to make

[1:07:29] something that was good for everyone.

[1:07:33] » As a land owner, do you have concerns if Savon was to turn around and sell it and

[1:07:39] you'd be dealing with another developer? Would you have any personal interest in

[1:07:44] a relationship with a future developer who purchased the lease?

[1:07:50] Yeah, I like I said, we're planning to own the land for the life of the project

[1:07:54] and I'll interface with whoever ends up owning it. Uh I'm not worried about a

[1:08:01] different company hijacking this or anything like that because there are all

[1:08:05] sorts of rules in place. I mean, AMA is very strict and also uh we already have

[1:08:11] a a draft lease in place and uh I don't think anyone's going to pull a fast one.

[1:08:17] think this is pretty tight and reasonable.

[1:08:24] » Uh just to clarify, why did you have an end date to the project? Solar panels

[1:08:29] can certainly be upgraded as the years pass. Uh why an end date to the project

[1:08:35] and why a decommission and what does that mean in the end of this project for

[1:08:40] you? What is your plan for it after that?

[1:08:44] » Yeah. So I I guess the the life of a solar project

[1:08:49] is really a solar industry thing. Uh it's pretty standard for these things to

[1:08:54] be planned for 30 35 40 years. Um you know one of the big requirements with

[1:09:01] AMA the agricultural mitigation impact uh state policy is that uh it's supposed

[1:09:08] to make sure solar doesn't tarnish good farmland. And in 35 years, if it makes

[1:09:15] sense to resume farming, then that's what we want to do. And we really think

[1:09:20] the land will be bet in better shape after this native vegetation has been on

[1:09:25] it for 35 years. I mean, like I said, uh this land has been farmed for about two

[1:09:30] centuries. And that means uh annual crops and tons of fertilizers and

[1:09:36] pesticides. and having it essentially like a wild meadow is going to do really

[1:09:41] good things for the soil. Um, it it's actually kind of funny and overwhelming

[1:09:47] to me that uh 35 years from now will be the end of my career and this will be

[1:09:54] something that I I work with before I retire and Plano in the US will be a

[1:10:01] very different place. Right? 35 years doesn't seem like a huge number, but it

[1:10:05] it is a lifetime. And I will want to have a conversation with the city and

[1:10:13] the planners and see what the highest best and best use of the land is then

[1:10:18] and it may be farming, it may be housing, it may be something else.

[1:10:25] » I have one more question for you. Uh, do you live around the area? Do you live on

[1:10:29] this property or where do you live? >> Uh, I do not. I currently live in

[1:10:32] Boston, Massachusetts. >> Okay.

[1:10:43] » Commission members, any other questions for Will

[1:10:53] » Savian. >> No questions here.

[1:10:59] » Thank you for speaking.

[1:11:04] » [applause]

[1:11:08] » Next individual on an interested party registration sheet, Andrew Kano.

[1:11:19] » Um, please state and spell your last name, please.

[1:11:21] » Sure. >> Andrew, last name is Kano. C A N O.

[1:11:25] » Mr. Kano, can you raise your right hand? Yep. Do you solemnly swear or affirm

[1:11:29] that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and

[1:11:33] nothing but the truth? >> Yes.

[1:11:35] » Um, are you an owner of adjacent land to this uh project, Mr.

[1:11:40] » Right across the street? >> Yeah. And what is that uh what does that

[1:11:42] address? >> 15115 Miller Road.

[1:11:45] » Thank you. >> Okay. So, this question is for the the

[1:11:50] committee. Are you is everybody on the board or the committee aware of the

[1:11:54] public act 102-1123 that was signed into law by Governor

[1:11:58] Prrisker in 2023? >> Well versed on that.

[1:12:02] » I have heard about it. If >> okay

[1:12:05] » if you have any further information though we would love to hear it.

[1:12:08] » Okay. Well the further information I had sounds is is this pretty simple and I'm

[1:12:13] going to address everybody out here because a lot of you don't know. I know

[1:12:17] a lot of we've we've signed the petition back in I believe 24. Um Little Rock

[1:12:23] Township did basically restricting the wind and solar fields. Well, this law

[1:12:29] prohibits us from doing it. Our hands are tied. I don't know if any

[1:12:35] of you know that they are. It's happening no matter what.

[1:12:40] » Well, >> not true.

[1:12:41] » Not true. So, that's my biggest thing with this thing. is nobody. I I get it.

[1:12:48] I'm not against progress. >> Not to interrupt. Can you write that or

[1:12:52] can you repeat the law really fast? I'd like to write it down.

[1:12:54] » Public act 102112-1123

[1:12:59] signed into law in 2023 by Governor Prrisker.

[1:13:02] » One, >> right? 1123.

[1:13:05] » 1123. I just I I do take notes. I know sometimes it seems like we are quiet up

[1:13:11] here as a commission. We do take notes and and do research. So, sorry. Thanks.

[1:13:16] » And and there's there's a subsequent act to that called the Clean and Reliable

[1:13:20] Grid Act affordability act. That's public act 104-0458.

[1:13:25] » I have >> you need to check into that too.

[1:13:27] Basically, what my understanding and read through it pretty good is the

[1:13:31] elimination of local bands restricting construction of solar facilities is

[1:13:35] basically what it is. So, our hands are kind of tied. We can say no, but then

[1:13:39] they're just going to circumvent the system and do it anyway.

[1:13:43] Okay. So, I can't I don't have any uh other questions than that. That was what

[1:13:49] I was really wanted to point out to everybody so that everybody was aware of

[1:13:53] that. I think it's in our best interest if since that's the situation.

[1:13:58] Everybody's looking at a little different. I'm for the good of the

[1:14:00] group. I I'm I'm affected by it. It's going to be right across the street from

[1:14:04] my house. But if the city of Plano and Little Rock Township can benefit from it

[1:14:09] from a tax standpoint without the state circling around and I don't know what

[1:14:14] happened with the Menard's thing and that whole deal, but I don't want to see

[1:14:17] it happen again. So from a tax standpoint, yeah, it's good. No one

[1:14:22] wants it. But if we don't have any other choice, kind of makes the decision

[1:14:27] pretty simple if you ask me. I don't have the ability to directly address Mr.

[1:14:31] strapment. But if you do want to live across the street from one, I got a spot

[1:14:35] for you. >> Thank you, [applause]

[1:14:44] » Mr. uh commission. Any questions for Mr. Kano?

[1:14:52] I am familiar with the law partially. I will be writing and looking both of

[1:14:57] those up. um

[1:15:01] and as well as other legal cases going along the state of Illinois. I know that

[1:15:06] we're not the only community facing this. We are not the only community, the

[1:15:10] only county. There is a lot of hearsay of deanexation and going to the county

[1:15:15] and what the county would do and what our Kendall County, this relies heavily

[1:15:19] on what Kendall County would be doing if this was to turn away from Plano. I do

[1:15:24] think that that's a very uh important piece of the puzzle, but I will uh

[1:15:30] we will as a commission be looking those up uh prior to our discussions um at the

[1:15:36] next step once the public hearing is closed.

[1:15:40] Savian, any questions for Mr. Kano? >> No questions.

[1:15:48] » Uh that completes the uh interested party registration.

[1:16:08] typically we would take a recess. Um, how this is going to move is this is

[1:16:15] going to go on to a continuation of public hearing. Uh, location to be

[1:16:21] determined. Um, date that we're looking at would be

[1:16:26] September 8th.

[1:16:30] Am I correct on that? >> I believe September 8th is the next

[1:16:33] regularly scheduled plan commission uh date.

[1:16:37] And how this is going to work is right now currently we were in the testify

[1:16:42] portion where all interested parties had the opportunity with a wide latitude to

[1:16:46] be able to speak um their mind and present data um much like Mr. Bernett

[1:16:51] did that we can um look into and research and um do our due diligence as

[1:16:58] commission members and public servants as Mr. Bernett pointed out earlier. So

[1:17:03] now the next step is we will continue the public hearing and then we'll be

[1:17:07] moving to close it. Once it goes into close session that does not mean that

[1:17:11] it's closed in private. Um everyone is still welcome to attend it. They still

[1:17:16] probably I'm assuming I don't have a confirmation but will be filmed to some

[1:17:19] extent. Um you still will be able to have public comment. It's just the

[1:17:24] portion of the public hearing where the interested parties have the right to

[1:17:27] testify and present evidence and cross-examine will be closed. We'll then

[1:17:31] as a commission go into discussion openly um asking questions to the

[1:17:36] petitioner, thoughts, gathering all the information that we've received during

[1:17:40] this public hearing as well as on our own time. And then we will compile our

[1:17:45] thoughts and publicly discuss and vote for a positive recommendation or a not

[1:17:51] positive recommendation. That will then go in writing to city council. Then we

[1:17:55] will restart some of the same process without the public hearing portion, but

[1:17:58] the city council and alderman will have their own set of questions, their own

[1:18:02] parameters that they're looking into. Um, but they will be moving forward with

[1:18:06] our written recommendation. However, that so goes in the next couple

[1:18:11] meetings. We have been doing every first and third Monday um while Savian was

[1:18:18] presenting just because it was a lot of information and to give them uh some

[1:18:21] time to get all through all of that. Otherwise, we would be here for another

[1:18:24] year. So, we did speed up the process. We now will be moving this public

[1:18:28] hearing to our regular scheduled meetings, which are the first Mondays of

[1:18:32] every month. Because it's a holiday and it's Labor Day, we'll be doing it Monday

[1:18:37] or I'm sorry, Tuesday, September 8th from 6 to 9 preferably.

[1:18:44] And location to be determined. Um, we have not secured this location as of

[1:18:49] yet. Um, so we are looking into some other venues. Um, city hall is always an

[1:18:54] option, but uh, due to the amount of people that come to these, we would like

[1:18:58] to have a place where everyone can sit comfortably and be able to hear and

[1:19:02] listen. I don't want anyone leaving feeling that they were shunned or

[1:19:05] didn't, you know, hear what was going on. So, with that being said, just so

[1:19:10] everyone's aware of how this is going to be moving through the chains um, of uh,

[1:19:16] politics here. So, we will be making a motion to continue the public hearing,

[1:19:20] which will then be continued on to September 8th. So, I would need a motion

[1:19:25] to continue the public hearing. >> I'll make a motion to continue to the

[1:19:29] public hearing on September 8th at 6:00 p.m.

[1:19:34] » Location to be determined. >> Location to be determined.

[1:19:36] » And I would need uh I need a motion by Mr. Router. I need a second.

[1:19:41] » Second. >> Seconded by Mr. Roderick. Discussion.

[1:19:44] Everyone's good with that? Then we need a roll call.

[1:19:50] » Roder, >> yes.

[1:19:53] » Rodri, >> yes.

[1:19:55] » Brauml, >> yes.

[1:19:57] » Carter, >> yes.

[1:19:59] » Riddle, >> yes.

[1:20:02] » Motion carries. So, our public hearing will be continued. Now, I usually

[1:20:05] typically take a recess. Um, my commission members seem to say, let's

[1:20:10] keep moving forward. So, at this point, unless anyone else needs a recess up

[1:20:16] here or we can move right into public comment.

[1:20:21] » Good. You good, Bill? >> Yep.

[1:20:24] [laughter] >> Uh, then we will just move right into

[1:20:27] public comment. Um, I'm going to read a little policy here and rules in place

[1:20:31] that we have for public comment. If you've been lucky enough to spend every

[1:20:36] first and third Monday, you have definitely heard these a few times. But

[1:20:40] for any new people wishing to speak tonight, I will be reading the policy.

[1:20:45] Persons wishing to speak tonight may do so after being recognized for that

[1:20:48] purpose by the chairperson. Only one person may address the plan commission

[1:20:51] at a time. Comments will be limited to three minutes per person and no longer

[1:20:55] for 30 minutes in total. We'll be using a running clock located over here on my

[1:21:00] right so that speakers can see how much time they have remaining to speak. I'll

[1:21:04] be asking you at the end of three minutes to please wrap up your last

[1:21:07] sentence and finish. Any person's unused time may not be traded, utilized, or

[1:21:11] added to another person's comment time. In other words, you may not yield time

[1:21:15] in order to talk longer. The plan commission at any time without creating

[1:21:19] precedent can expand the numbers of those permitted to speak. Meaning, if we

[1:21:23] have a lot of public comment, I have no problem going past the 30 minutes. Um,

[1:21:28] I'm not going to cut speakers off. I would like everyone to have the

[1:21:31] opportunity to speak if if possible. Persons addressing the plan commission

[1:21:36] shall identify themselves for the record and the plan commission and members of

[1:21:40] the public also attending the meeting. Persons addressing the plan commission

[1:21:44] will offer comments in a courteous and professional manner and refrain from

[1:21:48] using inappropriate or offensive language. The plan commission will not

[1:21:52] respond or engage in debate or discussion relating to the comments

[1:21:55] offered. The public comment period is intended to let members of the public

[1:22:00] have an opportunity to express their views to the plan commission and the

[1:22:04] plan commission takes all those comments by its speakers under its advisement.

[1:22:08] Meaning that if you were to ask a question or engage in dialogue um that's

[1:22:14] really you know we you might not get an answer but we are taking notes. We're

[1:22:18] always taking into account what everybody is saying. So I want everyone

[1:22:20] to feel that they have the right to speak.

[1:22:25] If you have signed up tonight to speak and you did not get a chance to talk

[1:22:28] tonight, then we'll keep your name on the list in the order that it was

[1:22:31] written and you'll have an opportunity to speak at the next meeting, which

[1:22:34] would be September 8th, if you wish to do so. In the event that you are on the

[1:22:38] list and cannot attend the next meeting, then you would need to resign up and

[1:22:42] speak at the next meeting that you can attend.

[1:22:45] With that being said, I will uh let our Mr. Thomas appoint the first speaker.

[1:22:52] Uh, first person on the public comment signup sheet is Karen Henry.

[1:22:59] » Also, just as a chair note, I really don't like to cut people off. I really

[1:23:04] try not to do that. Um, we everyone has been very very well and

[1:23:10] good at keeping it within the three minutes. I have to do that not because I

[1:23:14] don't want to hear what everyone has to say. It's just an order and a structure

[1:23:20] thing and to be fair to both sides of the fence and both people talking at the

[1:23:25] microphone. So just if I do do that, it is only because I have to follow rules,

[1:23:29] not because I personally don't want to hear anyone speaking. So just as a

[1:23:32] disclaimer before we start, I ran into that a little bit last meeting where I

[1:23:36] felt um compelled to cut someone off from speaking and I really don't like to

[1:23:40] do that. So just as a heads up. All right. Uh first up, Mrs. Henry.

[1:23:46] » Okay. I'd just like to start off with uh reading an article that appeared in the

[1:23:51] Sandwich Fair newspaper. Illinois agriculture is more than crops

[1:23:56] and livestock. It's a heartbeat for local economies, powering a vast network

[1:24:02] of businesses across the state. Farming and related sectors account for roughly

[1:24:08] 13% of the state's GDP, adding up to $120 billion dollar

[1:24:15] annually. and support over 400,000 jobs from feed

[1:24:19] mills to processing plants, logistics providers and equipment dealers.

[1:24:26] Agriculture supports nearly 6% of all jobs in Illinois, over 480,000

[1:24:33] positions, including more than 2,600 food manufacturing companies and

[1:24:39] thousands of specialty crop farms. transforming harvest into products that

[1:24:45] reach tables across the nation. Every time a tractor rolls into a feed

[1:24:50] store, a grain truck heads for the elevator, or a barn uses local services,

[1:24:55] it's another farm friendly business riding the wave of the harvest. And

[1:25:00] that's the kind of community strength that keeps Illinois strong generation

[1:25:04] after generation. Now I would like to bring your attention

[1:25:10] to a couple things that are being overlooked when considering the Plano

[1:25:14] skies project and that is the Constitution and the law. You have heard

[1:25:19] testimony from Mike Bernett, an interested party that explains how the

[1:25:24] Little Rock Township Ordinance of 2025 was enacted by the people according to

[1:25:29] the Constitution. The Illinois Constitution of 1870, Article 4, Section

[1:25:34] 22, prohibits the General Assembly from interfering in township affairs. This is

[1:25:40] critically important because the county is then directly immunable to the people

[1:25:45] through their township supervisors and the people can enact local law at the

[1:25:49] township meeting. The Little Rock Township Board is to uh

[1:25:54] is directed to enforce our local ordinance through all lawful and legal

[1:25:59] means. The citizens of Little Rock Township

[1:26:02] does not want Plano skies here. You do not have any granted power in the

[1:26:08] Constitution to give corporate privileges that trespass the people's

[1:26:12] right and property. Enforce the law the people have already made. If you ignore

[1:26:17] it and act on your own, you step outside immunity and become privately exposed.

[1:26:22] The Plato City Council swore an oath to the Constitution and the people which

[1:26:26] created it, not the solar companies. Thank you for your time.

[1:26:33] [applause]

[1:26:37] Uh, next is Ed Culture.

[1:26:46] Thank you. Do I need to spell my name? Yeah. K U L C H A.

[1:26:57] I just wanted to start by saying thank you to the board and the petitioner. Um

[1:27:02] been here for the whole process and I think it's been handled with uh

[1:27:06] thoroughess, inclusion and patience and I wish more things were handled in such

[1:27:11] a way and that's not rushed. So thank you.

[1:27:15] Um just want to say myself and my colleagues have been here throughout

[1:27:18] this uh process and we've highlighted many of the benefits of this project

[1:27:23] including to the local economy, the workers and their families uh the

[1:27:27] environment and tax benefits. I'm not going to rehash all that stuff, but just

[1:27:32] to say for the for the people that uh are here that aren't happy that I'm

[1:27:36] here. I just want you to know that we're some of the guys that are getting the

[1:27:40] calls from people that have been out of work for a couple months and are don't

[1:27:43] want to lose their houses and are having hard time feeding their families. So,

[1:27:46] that's the reason we fight so hard for stuff like this. [snorts]

[1:27:50] Uh just quickly finish up by saying um

[1:27:56] I mean so on behalf of myself, my colleagues, the tens of thousands of

[1:27:59] hardworking union laborers we have the honor to represent, all the other union

[1:28:03] workers, including operators and electricians, and the families of these

[1:28:06] workers that will greatly benefit from this project. Uh we wholeheartedly

[1:28:10] support it and urge you to vote yes and not miss this opportunity. Thank you.

[1:28:17] » [applause]

[1:28:20] » Next is John Wikes.

[1:28:27] » Mike Bernett.

[1:28:38] I'll keep it very brief this time. Um, my name is Mike Bernett.

[1:28:45] So sworn, all that good stuff. Someone just stood up here and said that uh

[1:28:49] there's nothing in the panels that's going to leech into the soil and we

[1:28:52] should trust the science. I don't know. In 1950, the science was

[1:28:56] that radium was okay to put into breakfast cereal toys.

[1:29:01] Um mercuric chrome was put all over our kids because it was the science.

[1:29:07] The science was nine out of 10 doctors recommended Marorrow.

[1:29:12] And now the science was get your vaccine. CO's a thing. Wear a mask. I

[1:29:19] think we've all figured out that the science is bought and paid for.

[1:29:24] [applause]

[1:29:30] » Next up is Chris Wikes.

[1:29:35] » Dennis Statman.

[1:29:42] Chris Chilris.

[1:29:51] » Hi, thanks again for your time. Uh just here really to echo Mr. Cono's uh

[1:29:58] statement. Again, you guys have done a great job

[1:30:01] here. Everyone's voice has been heard and uh you know, I think that's a good

[1:30:05] thing. What concerns me here, and it really concerns me, is the state of

[1:30:11] Illinois has taken some of the rights away of the people of the city of Plano

[1:30:17] in the area. They've said that if the project meets

[1:30:21] the state standard, it will be built and can be built. And I know I'm h so happy

[1:30:27] to hear you guys are going to look into that.

[1:30:30] The choice before you tonight, it is it it is a tough one, but acting in the

[1:30:35] best interest of the residents of Plano on whether solar can be built or not has

[1:30:40] already been decided by the state of Illinois.

[1:30:43] If you vote to approve the Plano skies project, you keep control, and that's

[1:30:48] really the most important thing. They've taken your control, but if you keep it

[1:30:52] here, you keep some of that control. You secure the financial commitments in

[1:30:57] the form of a community benefits agreement. You expand the physical

[1:31:02] footprint of the city by over a thousand acres. You create and support union

[1:31:06] jobs. You bring in approximately $52 million of additional tax revenue. A lot

[1:31:12] of it which stays in the city, most of it, of course, we know goes to the

[1:31:16] schools. Or you can say no. But it's important to understand what happens if

[1:31:21] you say no. A no vote doesn't stop it. Under the Illinois law, the project goes

[1:31:27] to the county where the county's authority is limited. Yours is not. The

[1:31:33] project meets the state requirements and as a result, the county must approve it.

[1:31:36] The project that's been tested in Will County and

[1:31:41] it's been tested in Grundy County. Both of which the court said the state rights

[1:31:46] and the state's law is upheld. When that happened, Plano loses control.

[1:31:52] It loses a seat at the table. It loses the opportunity to negotiate the project

[1:31:58] with specific requirements. Plano loses a community benefits agreement. The

[1:32:03] city's share of the project revenue goes away.

[1:32:07] You could lose part of your city. Plano's ability to shape the project

[1:32:13] goes away. And that's a big concern. I would want control, and I would hope

[1:32:17] these residents would want control. They may not want a solar project, but let's

[1:32:21] keep the control here. They're going to invest about $350 million in this

[1:32:26] project. And to talk about how they've changed

[1:32:30] and how the project has changed, it has changed. The project's changed because

[1:32:35] they heard you didn't want battery, they removed it. They heard you didn't want a

[1:32:40] data center, they removed it. They heard you wanted it moved away from the

[1:32:44] residents, they shrunk the project. That's local control working exactly the

[1:32:50] way it ought to work. So my ask is simple. Keep control, keep Plano in

[1:32:56] control of this project. Keep the tax revenue, the community benefits, keep

[1:33:01] the union jobs, and approve Plano skies so you guys remain in control. Thank you

[1:33:06] very much. Appreciate it. [applause]

[1:33:12] » Next up is Cameron Mueller.

[1:33:30] I'm sorry.

[1:33:42] Good evening, council. And again, thank you for listening to everybody from both

[1:33:47] sides. I'd like to start by saying that I am

[1:33:51] not against solar. Uh I think it is a great and amazing alternative energy for

[1:33:56] individuals and small businesses. I am against large national corporations

[1:34:02] using green energy as the new age land grab and quick cash cow. In most of

[1:34:08] these meetings, Savon or their representatives had have had to repeat

[1:34:13] over and over again if Savon is still the owner. I take that language as

[1:34:19] meaning there are pl they are planning to take what they can from the land and

[1:34:24] will give us back nothing or the bare minimum to the people or of this

[1:34:29] community. Uh, no one that has spoken in the

[1:34:34] positive for this project lives in our community or our town.

[1:34:40] Uh, uh, and they will not have to live here

[1:34:44] to see the consequences or repercussions of replacing 1500 acres of the best

[1:34:50] farmland in the world with a field of corporate greed that is built out of

[1:34:57] steel and glass. and the future growth uh and prosperity of our town with no

[1:35:04] hope of reclaiming it uh any bit of seeing that or reclaiming it or seeing

[1:35:10] any of that future ever again.

[1:35:16] As stated earlier tonight, there is a new industrial revolution in which very

[1:35:22] ultra rich wealthy millionaire land owners and individual or industrial

[1:35:27] corporations owned by Shell Oil get to dictate and shape the future of Plano

[1:35:33] for the next 35 years. In summation, I would like to ask the

[1:35:38] council this question. Is what little Savon has promised with this solar field

[1:35:44] enough? Or is the future and prosperity of our town worth much much more than

[1:35:51] what is offered? Thank you. [applause]

[1:36:01] Nicole Diaz,

[1:36:06] » Lydia Simra,

[1:36:16] » do you need me to do you need me to spell that for you? S I M R A Y H.

[1:36:22] Um, give me one second. Uh, good evening members of the commission. My name is

[1:36:27] Lydia Simray and I'm here on behalf of the Indiana Illinois Iowa Foundation for

[1:36:31] Affair Contracting. Um, more commonly known as the Triple I FFC.

[1:36:36] We are a labor management cooperation committee that works to promote

[1:36:41] responsible contracting practices, fair competition, and high quality

[1:36:45] construction throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. And I'm here tonight

[1:36:50] in support of the proposed Plano Sky Solar Project. From the triple I FFC's

[1:36:55] perspective, this project represents the kind of economic development that can

[1:36:59] benefit both the local community and the broader region. Utility scale solar

[1:37:04] facilities require significant investment, extensive site preparation,

[1:37:09] and a skilled construction workforce. That means jobs for construction

[1:37:14] workers, opportunities for contractors and suppliers, and economic activity

[1:37:19] that extend that extends well beyond the project site itself.

[1:37:23] When projects of this size move forward, the benefits ripple throughout the local

[1:37:27] economy. Construction workers spend money at local restaurants, gas

[1:37:31] stations, grocery stores, and small businesses. Contractors purchase

[1:37:36] materials, equipment, fuel, and services. Hotels, trucking companies,

[1:37:41] and equipment dealers all see increased activity. These are tangible economic

[1:37:46] benefits that communities experience during construction.

[1:37:50] Equally important is how these projects are built. The triple I FFC supports

[1:37:54] development that is performed by skilled workers, responsible contractors, and

[1:37:58] companies that invest in workforce training. Illinois has one of the most

[1:38:02] highly trained construction workforces in the country, supported by registered

[1:38:06] apprentichip programs that prepare workers to safely and efficiently

[1:38:10] complete complex infrastructure projects. Those training programs ensure

[1:38:14] that projects are completed to a high standard while creating career pathways

[1:38:18] for the next generation of construction professionals.

[1:38:22] As demand for energy infrastructure continues to grow, projects like Plano

[1:38:26] Skies provide an opportunity to put those skills to work while helping meet

[1:38:30] Illinois's future energy needs. The question before the commission is not

[1:38:34] simply whether solar energy should play a role in our state's future. It's

[1:38:38] whether the community should participate in the investment, jobs, and economic

[1:38:41] activity associated with that growth. We believe the answer is yes. The FFC also

[1:38:47] believes economic development and strong labor standards are not competing

[1:38:50] interests. In fact, they work best together. Communities benefit when

[1:38:54] projects are built safely. Workers are properly trained and compensated, and

[1:38:59] contractors comp compete on quality and performance rather than cutting corners.

[1:39:04] The Plano Sky Solar Project offers an opportunity to advance those goals while

[1:39:08] bringing meaningful construction investment to the county. For those

[1:39:13] reasons, we respectfully encourage the commission to approve this project.

[1:39:17] Thank you for your time and consideration and I appreciate the

[1:39:20] opportunity to be able to speak this evening.

[1:39:24] [applause] >> Thank you.

[1:39:28] » Joel Pile.

[1:39:38] This will be short because I lost my speech somehow. Uh but um first of all

[1:39:43] uh my name is Joe Pile. I represent the IBW and the electrical workers that live

[1:39:48] here in Plano and Kendall County. Um, and I know we have had a member or two

[1:39:55] that have spoken that live here in the town as well on behalf of this project.

[1:40:01] I want to thank the planning commission for your hard work. You've done a good

[1:40:05] job uh keeping this this uh um group together and listening to everybody's

[1:40:11] thoughts and comments. Um, I know that's hard sometimes because I sit on a

[1:40:16] planning commission in a town just down the road.

[1:40:21] Um, as far as Savon goes, Savon has has been working on this thing since at

[1:40:27] least 2023 when I first got involved. Um, it has changed a few times. I

[1:40:33] believe they're trying to do what's right and best for its neighbors, trying

[1:40:38] to be a good neighbor. I think they've, um, done a good job with that. I know

[1:40:43] not everybody likes that. Um, you know, and we and we hear that nobody likes it,

[1:40:49] but Plano is bigger than the uh um 50 people here in the room. Um same 50

[1:40:57] people that's been here for about five meetings. And I know that cuz I've been

[1:41:01] here for five meetings in this in this auditorium here. And I just want to say

[1:41:06] this is a good project. Savon has done their due diligence. They've reached out

[1:41:11] to the building trades. Um they're going to do do it with the building trades. If

[1:41:15] this project gets approved um all over the state Illinois, these

[1:41:19] jobs are being done from out of state uh developers and they bring in out of

[1:41:24] state workers that work here, leave and spend their money back at home,

[1:41:30] different states all over the country. I I know that because we track all of

[1:41:34] these and and it's going on everywhere. They've made a promise to the building

[1:41:39] trades, me, IBW, my brothers, and the laborers and the 150 operators behind

[1:41:44] me. Um, they've made a promise to us that they're going to do it the right

[1:41:48] way. And with union labor, we employ people from this town. We employ we we

[1:41:54] bring into our apprenticeships kids from these towns. We do we do um craft fairs

[1:41:59] and all kinds of things. We do them right here in this school, you know, to

[1:42:03] try and promote the building trades and try to try to get these kids and in the

[1:42:07] trades and and and working and making a good living. But I want to thank you all

[1:42:12] for for listening to me. I thank you all for your time. Do the right thing. Pass

[1:42:17] this pass this to the city city board and let them make the decision and

[1:42:22] hopefully that'll be to build this the Plano skies project. Thank you.

[1:42:27] [applause] >> Thank you.

[1:42:31] Herb Walton,

[1:42:43] RJ Pollock.

[1:43:09] My name is R.J. Pollock. Um, I live on Sweetbrier right on the corner.

[1:43:16] I moved in in 2009. drove right down that street on uh Big Rock Boulevard,

[1:43:22] past that big empty field, and see off to the west the setting sun as I came

[1:43:27] out to examine what might be my new home.

[1:43:34] It pains me to think about this, in my opinion, monstrosity that's going

[1:43:39] to be built just north of my home. Don't want it. Don't need it. Not a fan of

[1:43:46] solar. But I have sat here through these

[1:43:50] meetings and listened to all the testimony.

[1:43:53] My background from college is community and regional planning. I have a BS

[1:43:59] bachelor of science in that. So this whole operation has intrigued me

[1:44:04] greatly because it's an opportunity to kind of practice my craft. And thank

[1:44:09] goodness I found something else to do um when I graduated just before just after

[1:44:14] 911 because I don't have to sit in the seat that you're in up there and make

[1:44:19] these kind of decisions.

[1:44:23] I started doing some research trying to figure out

[1:44:27] how can I find out how horrible this company is that's trying to build this

[1:44:30] solar farm so I can put an end to it. And I couldn't find much.

[1:44:35] Unfortunately, it seems like they're fairly reputable company by their

[1:44:39] reputation. I've listened to

[1:44:44] testimony about things that happened in 1870.

[1:44:48] All I can say is if you have the will, take it all the way to the end. If you

[1:44:54] have the will to do it, take it where it can go.

[1:44:58] » [applause]

[1:45:00] » But please don't make any rules about banning alcohol or dancing or anything

[1:45:04] else like that because if you have that kind of power,

[1:45:08] I feel like that's a little bit dangerous.

[1:45:12] Um,

[1:45:15] I have greater concerns about what happens after this.

[1:45:20] I get the sense that this is already bought and paid for. I think it's

[1:45:24] happening whether I like it or not. I think we're checking boxes sitting in

[1:45:29] these meetings. I'd like to think that that's not the case, but I think that's

[1:45:33] what's true. Um,

[1:45:39] I look at the land that's to the north of me and I looked at the comprehensive

[1:45:42] plan from a couple years ago. It was approved on 2025, August 11th, my

[1:45:48] birthday. And there's nothing but residential

[1:45:51] houses as far as the eye can see. House farms. I've built a lot of them.

[1:45:59] There's two options moving forward as far as how they're going to develop that

[1:46:02] land. It's either going to be this solar farm, which based on my research isn't

[1:46:06] going to do a whole heck of a lot other than put this land in sustainable stasis

[1:46:10] for the next 30 years or so. But I don't want anything horrible immediately north

[1:46:15] of me. So, I hope you guys have a plan. I hope this fits in some kind of plan

[1:46:22] because right now I don't see one and that worries me.

[1:46:26] » Sorry I went over time. Thank you.

[1:46:31] » Thank you. >> And that concludes those signed up.

[1:46:36] » There's at least one more person that wants to talk.

[1:46:40] » Was there another individual? Mr. Wikes. Sure. Mr. Wes and

[1:46:50] Well, I appreciate what Mike and uh our uh township representative had to say

[1:46:56] tonight and uh I would say uh let Plano take a stand with us and let's take this

[1:47:04] thing all the way to Pritchard because I don't like the state running

[1:47:09] my life and uh I don't uh

[1:47:14] uh like I said, "I I can't see taking such good land and doing this with it."

[1:47:21] And I don't want to beat beat beat that to death, but uh I'm glad Mike I thought

[1:47:26] he did a good job explaining this. And uh uh we need to keep moving forward

[1:47:32] with it and uh we don't want to be run by Springfield.

[1:47:39] [applause]

[1:47:42] Was there another individual raised their hand like to make public comment?

[1:47:45] Sure. Come on.

[1:47:52] » And just so I could add this to the list, please, could you uh restate your

[1:47:56] name? >> It's Jonathan Henderson.

[1:47:58] » Thank you. >> Um I'll make this one more brief than

[1:48:02] before, but I know the commission has said, you

[1:48:06] know, they don't want people leaving it with questions and be able to be heard.

[1:48:09] So, I just wanted to clarify some things that some people made mention of tonight

[1:48:13] just so everybody's kind of clear on the subject.

[1:48:16] A portion what I read earlier, um the Black's Law definition, which for those

[1:48:22] that don't know is the undisputed gold standard of law dictionaries, it's

[1:48:26] what's most cited worldwide for law. says, "The Constitution and American

[1:48:32] laws, the written instrument agreed upon by the people of the Union or a

[1:48:35] particular state as the absolute rule of action and decision for all departments

[1:48:40] and officers of the government in respect to all the points covered by it.

[1:48:44] I know there's been mention of a couple statutes and acts that were passed in

[1:48:48] 2023. Um, please feel free to go look at those

[1:48:53] if you'd like, but those bow at the feet of the Constitution."

[1:48:57] There's a landmark case of Marberry vers Madison from 1803. It's wildly cited all

[1:49:02] over because there's a lot of gems in it. But at the conclusion of that, Chief

[1:49:07] Justice John Marshall wrote that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void.

[1:49:11] He asserted that any statute conflicting with the Constitution is invalid and

[1:49:15] lacks legal authority. So all those statutes and acts that may have been

[1:49:18] passed by the state, the general assembly, they have no authority. The

[1:49:22] Constitution holds all and it was created by the people. Thank you.

[1:49:28] [applause]

[1:49:34] » I think that exhausts the list of the people signed up for public comment.

[1:49:40] Thank you everyone for coming tonight. We will be I have repeated that but I

[1:49:46] will repeat it again just so everyone's aware. Uh location to be determined

[1:49:50] September 8th after uh the Labor Day holiday which is a Tuesday. Um

[1:49:56] the city offices will be closed on Monday so that uh officially makes our

[1:50:00] meetings on Tuesday. Location to be determined. Um we will make sure that

[1:50:04] that is posted so that everyone knows where and we will keep the time at 6 pm.

[1:50:10] Members comments. Anyone here wishing to state anything as a commission?

[1:50:20] I will just briefly uh I'd just like to thank everybody for coming to this uh

[1:50:25] the it's not just the commission up here. It's the township and uh the

[1:50:30] people of this city that really bring value to this and allow us to make a a

[1:50:34] comprehensive decision on this. So I just want to thank everybody for your

[1:50:38] time the last five meetings. It's it's been a good

[1:50:42] u amount of information for us to digest and for us to continue to to ask in in

[1:50:48] subsequent meetings here. So, thank you all very much.

[1:50:57] » I second that. Um, with that being said, I would need a motion to adjourn.

[1:51:05] » Make a motion we adjourn the meeting. >> Motion by Ed Carter. I need a second.

[1:51:13] » Second. >> Seconded by Mr. Riddle. Roll call vote.

[1:51:18] Carter, >> yes.

[1:51:19] » Riddle, >> yes.

[1:51:21] » Braum, >> yes.

[1:51:25] » Uh, Router, >> yes.

[1:51:27] » Rodri, >> yes.

[1:51:29] » Motion carries. Meeting adjourned till September 8th.

[1:51:34] » Thank you everyone for coming tonight.

Plan Commission Meeting August 3, 2026

Transcript