Grundy Reporter

Grundy County Zoning Board of Appeals Committee met June 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance 

Attendee Name	Title	Status	Arrived
Dick Joyce		Present
Bob Breisch		Present
Lisa Lynch		Present
Mark Hill		Present
Al Skwarczynski		Present
Mark Sandeno		Present
Ryan Cryder		Absent
Heidi Miller	Land Use Director	Present
Alec Macdonald	Director of Development	Present
Mary Kucharz	County Administrator	Present
Beth Skoff	Land Use Assistant	Present

Public Attendees; David Welter (on behalf of petitioner), Thomas Betzwiser, Larry Johnson

II. Approval of Minutes 

1. Zoning Board of Appeals Committee - Public Hearing - Apr 15, 2025 7:00 PM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Al Skwarczynski SECONDER: Mark Sandeno AYES: Joyce, Breisch, Lynch, Hill, Skwarczynski, Sandeno

III. Official Business 

1. Petition 25-ZBA-009 Variance for Rolf and Lori Helland

Chairman Breisch asked Miller to read summery. Miller read summery. Davis Welter spoke on behalf of the petitioners. Skwarczynski asked if the 8 foot would just be on the back perimeter of the property and Welter verified yes. There was no public comment. There were no other questions from the ZBA. Motion passes 5-0.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Al Skwarczynski SECONDER: Mark Sandeno AYES: Joyce, Breisch, Lynch, Hill, Skwarczynski, Sandeno

2. Petition 25-ZBA-007 - Brisbin Solar LLC

Kucharz asked Chairman Breisch since the agenda was posted the county has received an abundance of feedback from citizens, businesses, other political entities and at this time, staff is asking that this matter be tabled to allow the parties to sit down and further review and look into this matter. Motion tabled to 7-15-25 ZBA meeting.

RESULT: TABLED [UNANIMOUS] Next: 7/15/2025 7:00 PM  MOVER: Mark Hill SECONDER: Al Skwarczynski AYES: Joyce, Breisch, Lynch, Hill, Skwarczynski, Sandeno

3. Petition 25-ZBA-008 East North Road Aux Sable D.B.A. Lightstar Renewables

Kucharz asked Chairman Breisch since the agenda was posted the county has received an abundance of feedback from citizens, businesses, other political entities and at this time, staff is asking that this matter be tabled to allow the parties to sit down and further review and look into this matter. Motion tabled to 7-15-25 ZBA meeting.

RESULT: TABLED [UNANIMOUS] Next: 7/15/2025 7:00 PM  MOVER: Mark Sandeno SECONDER: Dick Joyce AYES: Joyce, Breisch, Lynch, Hill, Skwarczynski, Sandeno

4. Petition 25-ZBA-010 Text Amendment for Battery Energy Storage Systems

Chairman Breisch asked Miller to read summery. Miller read summery. Sandeno asked who would monitor the systems. Miller stated it would be the developers third party agency. Tom Betzwiser questioned the water storage for lithium ion batteries. Miller stated that its a way to help control the spread of a fire. Sandeno asked who would be responsible for the fire. Miller stated that the local first responders would be at the scene first however the developers third party agency would have their own maintenance and protection personnel. Larry Johnson suggested to have a disconnect between units to further prevent a spread of a fire. Miller stated that there is an emergency section in the ordinance for shutdown and full scale disaster testing. Sandeno made sure it was clear that there was no approval of battery storage for any solar sites at this meeting. This was just an introduction to a new ordinance for the future.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/25/2025 4:30 PM  MOVER: Al Skwarczynski SECONDER: Dick Joyce AYES: Joyce, Breisch, Lynch, Hill, Skwarczynski, Sandeno

IV. Old Business 

There was no old business to discuss.

V. New Business

There was no new business to discuss.

VI. Adjournment 

1. Motion to adjourn at 7:52 PM

RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Mark Sandeno SECONDER: Mark Hill AYES: Joyce, Breisch, Lynch, Hill, Skwarczynski, Sandeno

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