Spanish Fork Press

Three groups, each concerned with the ongoing "windmill controversy ", had a chance to again state their case at the March 7 City Council meeting. The three entities are: residents of properties, adjacent to the proposed site for the wind towers; the City Council, and Wasatch Wind LLC. They all reported on progress they'd made toward reaching a decision on where the proposed wind farm towers would be located.

The time set aside for public comments drew Jolene Parker to the microphone. "Three generations of my family live near the wind farm," Parker said. She said her family had not as yet been living in the area when the notices about the wind towers were sent out . "But we couldn't find one person who'd received one," she said.

Parker suffers from Meniere's disease, she told the Council, which causes great discomfort and dizziness when looking at continual motion, such as that of wind tower blades. She acknowledged she knew about the trains and the noise from Route 6 when she moved into the area but would not have chosen to live there if she had known about the proposed wind farm.

Other residents came to the rostrum to raise the issue of just how many towers would, ultimately, be in the wind farm and where, exactly, they would be located.

An update on these issues was presented later in the meeting with Mayor Joe Thomas summarizing progress-to-date. Thomas disclosed he had met with Wasatch Wind management and the three representatives for the property owners to discuss alternative up-canyon sites for the towers.

"We identified potential sites," he said. "We have no guarantees but it looks good."

Thomas commended management of Wasatch Wind and the three representatives for all their hard work during the past two weeks. "They are fantastic to work with," he said.

Christine Watson Mikell, Wasatch Wind, displayed aerial photos of potential up-canyon sites. Towers had been superimposed on these photos in order to present some idea of what such a wind farm would look like.

The representatives for property owners have written a letter to Mayor Thomas and Wasatch Wind thanking them and the City Staff for the cooperation they've received from all parties. They feel the "up-canyon plan is a good thing".

They pointed out that multiple parties are impacted in various ways but their message to residents is that legal action, which could hurt the up-canyon deal, should be avoided. The representatives for the property owners want written assurance that the towers won't suddenly appear on the horizon.

Mikell, Wasatch Wind representative, said the controversial down-canyon sites are very unlikely to be utilized. She also confirmed the actual height of the tower as 262 feet with the top of the blade reaching 407 feet.

Relative to the "thumping" sound some people have reported on, she said "You have to be right up next to the tower to hear it." She advised that Camp Williams has two similar turbines. She suggested residents should investigate whether they could be given an opportunity to observe these turbines.

When questioned about the actual number of turbines to be erected, Mayor Thomas said "For economic reasons, they are limited to nine or ten. They have 12 optional sites but if they get nine or ten, they will be in great shape."

The financial benefit to the City is still under discussion. The Mayor said the land on which the turbines will be erected is privately owned. "This is not about the City," he said. He added "When final data is determined, we'll have a detailed report."

This story appeared in Spanish Fork Press on page A1.