Bill Faircloth.

Well, after the week of July 6-13 with all the turmoil it sounded like Tama County might be going in the right direction to save some money. Supervisors Mark Doland and David Turner were ready to stop litigation. So it was placed on the agenda for the Monday, July 14 meeting. But they decided not to vote on it so we will keep spending money. The Board of Supervisors now are going to try to work out a deal with Salt Creek Wind. A lot of controversy over who should negotiate, but it was finally decided Doland and Turner would. Supervisor Heather Knebel felt she should be part of the negotiations because the turbines are going up in her district. She said she has worked for farmers on both sides of the issue. I have never heard her say anything positive about wind energy or to support it in any way.

This is something that needs to be settled quickly. Knebel and Supervisor Curt Hilmer still feel this should go to the Supreme Court – you know, just keep spending money. It will not be cheap! All five supervisors ended up voting to keep litigation open. Try to use it for bargaining but a judge has already ruled against Tama County in the lawsuit with Salt Creek Wind.

As a former board member, we have basically been told by this board that we were no good. Well, last December this board was told the same thing we were told, do not try to fight Salt Creek Wind because we can’t afford it. So they get rid of positions and people, cut budgets to pay for their agenda, all to fight Salt Creek Wind. Maybe they should have listened to someone other than anti-wind people. Now that budgets have been cut, the county engineer doesn’t have money to maintain roads the way they need to be. Priorities, Supervisors!

The way I see it, all five board members need to be gone. Say one thing and do another. People in other counties keep asking me what kind of zoo do we have here. Good question.

Have a great week.

Bill Faircloth is a rural Toledo resident and former Tama County Supervisor (2021-2024). Prior to public service, he spent nearly four decades working for Fisher Controls in Marshalltown before retiring in 2012; he then worked part-time for Tama County for eight years.