Chippewa Valley Electric will soon be moving a solar farm onto a patch of land on the city’s west side, following approval of a developer’s agreement with the city at the August 15 council meeting. Motion to approve was made by Mark Fitzsimmons, being seconded by Mike Henke. An easement was still to be completed on the city’s part.

As to the land parcel itself, it’s located off the curve in Janicki Road and consists of 12.04 acres the city is leasing to Chippewa Valley Electric a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) rate of $250 per acre per year. Good for 25 years, the PILOT fee will be renegotiated in 2047. The total purchase price of the property is $66,220, or $5,500 an acre.

Should the solar farm close within 10 years of purchase, the city can repurchase the land back at the sale price. If the solar farm ceases operation after 10 years, the city can repurchase the land at fair market value. The agreement’s closing terms make Chippewa Valley Electric responsible for design and construction of an access road to the property, with utilities.

As to other city business from August 15, the city approved a payment of $144,593 to Lane Tank for the water tower near the prison, while a principal payment of $99,437 was made to USDA – Rural Development. Other notable expenses approved at the August 15 meeting include a payment of $38,253 plus change to Hoover Construction for the roof on the police addition, while a total of $8,760.53 was paid to the IRS in Social Security and Medicare taxes, with Forward Financial getting $39,832.81 as partial payment on a $4.3 million loan for TIF #3. Special bond redemption loan savings, meanwhile, totaled $16,572.83 through Forward Financial.

On a final note, Elizabeth Miniatt gave the library director’s update, making a tribute to late board member Cheryl Kern-Simirenko, who passed away July 24 in Worden, at home.

“The library has been receiving memorials,” Miniatt said, going on to say that these were nationwide and showed how Kern-Simirenko touched lives.