Witt vows to fight solar farm project
Apr. 6—Welsch named to Planning Commission
BY DALE HOGG
Reluctantly, the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning accepted the resignation of Dan Witt from the Planning and Zoning Commission due to a scheduling conflict. But, they didn't have to look far for a replacement. They named Junior Welsch to the seat.
The uncompensated term ends March 31, 2026.
Even with Witt's resignation, "I'm very fortunate that I still have three applicants that are interested," said Environmental Manager Judy Goreham who oversees the Planning Commission. In addition to Welsch, the other applicants were Shane Suchy and Bob Fairbanks.
District 2 Commissioner Barb Esfeld nominated Suchy for the opening. However, District 4 Commissioner Tricia Schlessiger nominated Welsch, who was present at the meeting.
Suchy, from Great Bend, has much experience in the construction field, Esfeld said. But, Schlessiger said Welsch, also a Great Bend resident, has a strong agricultural background, and she felt that was important.
There were no hard feelings and in the end, the commission voted 4-1 in favor of Welsch. Esfeld was the only dissenting vote.
"All three (candidates) are very worthy," Esfeld said.
The focus of the Planning Commission is to plan for the proper growth and development of Barton County through the enactment of planning and zoning laws for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare. Although all applicants must reside in Barton County, the majority of members must be from the unincorporated area.
At last week's Barton County Commission meeting, the commission appointed Dr. Dan Witt of Hoisington to the Barton County Planning and Zoning Commission. But, due to a scheduling conflict, he would be unable to attend meetings and has respectfully resigned, Environmental Manager Judy Goreham said Wednesday morning.
"Thank you. The confidence that you had in putting me on this touches my heart," said Witt, who was present Wednesday. He wishes he could continue because he has a cause to support — preventing the proposed solar farm in north central Barton County.
This is a project of Chicago-based Acciona Energy USA, an American subsidiary of Madrid, Spain-based Acciona Energy. The company is looking at 1,500 acres somewhere in a massive swatch that touches Great Bend and Cheyenne Bottoms, and includes Barton Community College.
Acciona hopes to break ground on the $320-350 million project in early 2024.
"My purpose for warning that appointment was completely focused and intentionally to try to prevent the solar array from going in close to Cheyenne Bottoms," he said. "What I know about that is a huge company that knows nothing about our county, our Bottoms, our birds came in and leased up a huge amount of ground and had those people signed nondisclosure agreements and then they're going to try to ramrod that thing through,"
There's a "scathing report" from the Audubon Society that tells of the dangers of the solar farms regarding wildlife, he said.
In addition, "I have a petition that has 1,300 signatures on it against this project," he said. He also vowed to campaign every day to fight the effort.
"It's not very often that 83 year old returned doc gets invited to teach at a brand new medical school," he said, referring to the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Wichita. "That's the first new medical school in Kansas since 1905. It's great."
This commitment is what is keeping Witt from attending the Planning Commission meetings.
"Thanks so much for being willing to step up and help out, with not only volunteering your time with the Planning and Zoning Commission, but also with helping teach the new doctors," said commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson, District 3.
"When I retired 10 years ago, I had to decide if I wanted to grow a ponytail and get a Corvette or move to Costa Rica," Witt joked. "I decided to pick up my cameras and take pictures of Hoisington sports and Cheyenne Bottoms."
He and his wife Sandra moved to this area from Kansas City in 1990 because of the Bottoms. "We've celebrated Barton County, Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira Refuge. They are so vital to the migration of these birds."
The solar panels kill the little birds which fly into them, he said. So, they will change a migration patterns.
"I would encourage and plead with you with every ounce of my body to not let that thing happen," Witt said.
"I can tell you that I, for one, am vehemently opposed to the solar farm going out by Cheyenne Bottoms, but I'm only one," Hutchinson said.
"In conjunction with the Planning Commission, I just would remind anyone from the public who was concerned about that issue to make sure you get all of your information to the Planning Commission," said County Counselor Patrick Hoffman. That way, when it meets and holds hearings on the issue, it can be included.
