Grundy Reporter

Grundy County Land Use Committee met Sept. 24.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. Call to Order II. Public Portion 

Attendee Name	Title	Status	Arrived
Eric Rasmusson	Board Member	Present
Joshua Harris	Board Member	Present
Jerald White	Chair	Absent
Georgette Vota	Board Member	Present
James Riley	Vice Chair	Present
Nathanael Greene	Board Member	Absent
Jeff Wynn	Board Member	Present
Joe Plese	Board Member	Present
Christina Jenkins	Board Member	Present
Sandy Pommier	County Board Admin. Asst.	Present
Drew Muffler	Chairman	Present

Several residents spoke regarding their objections to the proposed solar farms.

III. Approval of Minutes 

1. Land Use Committee/ - Regular Meeting - Aug 27, 2025 4:30 PM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Joshua Harris, Board Member SECONDER: Joe Plese, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese, Jenkins ABSENT: White, Greene

IV. Land Use Department 

1. Official Business 

2. Petition 25-ZBA-014 Special Use to Allow Event Venues for A-Agricultural Land The motion was to recommend to the County Board as a negative recommendation.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Joe Plese, Board Member SECONDER: Georgette Vota, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese, Jenkins ABSENT: White, Greene

3. Petition 25-ZBA-019 Gillard Solar Modifications for Sheep Grazing

RESULT: TABLED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Christina Jenkins, Board Member SECONDER: Jeff Wynn, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese, Jenkins ABSENT: White, Greene

4. Extension Request for Gillard Solar for October Approval

The motion was to recommend to the County Board with a negative recommendation. The motion failed.

A second motion was made by Jenkins, seconded by Vota to recommend to the County Board with a positive recommendation. Upon roll call, motion carried 5-1 (Plese).

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [1 TO 5]  MOVER: Joe Plese, Board Member SECONDER: Joshua Harris, Board Member AYES: Plese NAYS: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Jenkins ABSENT: White, Greene

5. Petition 25-ZBA-018 Goose Lake Township Solar 1

The motion was to recommend to the County Board with a negative recommendation. Motion carried.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [5 TO 1]  MOVER: Georgette Vota, Board Member SECONDER: Joe Plese, Board Member AYES: Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese, Jenkins NAYS: Rasmusson ABSENT: White, Greene

6. Petition 25-ZBA-017 USS Montgomery Solar LLC

The motion was to recommend to the County Board with a negative recommendation. Motion carried.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [5 TO 1]  MOVER: Jeff Wynn, Board Member SECONDER: Joshua Harris, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Wynn, Plese, Jenkins NAYS: Vota ABSENT: White, Greene

7. Petition 25-ZBA-015 USS Delta Solar LLC

The motion was to recommend to the County Board with a negative recommendation. Motion carried.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Jeff Wynn, Board Member SECONDER: Joshua Harris, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese, Jenkins ABSENT: White, Greene

8. Petition 25-ZBA-016 USS Keeneland LLC

The motion was to recommend to the County Board with a negative recommendation. Motion carried.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [5 TO 1]  MOVER: Jeff Wynn, Board Member SECONDER: Joshua Harris, Board Member AYES: Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese, Jenkins NAYS: Rasmusson ABSENT: White, Greene

9. Extension of Coal City CS1 Solar LLC - First Extension

This was the second vote. The first motion was made by Harris to negatively recommend to the County Board. There was no second, therefore the motion failed.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Christina Jenkins, Board Member SECONDER: Georgette Vota, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese, Jenkins ABSENT: White, Greene

10. Extension of Coal City CS2 Solar LLC - First Extension

This motion/vote was for the Modification of Layout only.

There was a motion made first by Jenkins, seconded by Wynn to positively recommend to the County Board. During discussion Jenkins left the meeting (6:39 PM) and the developer, WSP, LLC, withdrew the request for the extension. The original motion died due to the motioner being absent and not able to motion to rescind.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Jeff Wynn, Christina Jenkins SECONDER: Joshua Harris, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese ABSENT: White, Greene EXCUSED: Jenkins

11. Extension of Coal City CS3 Solar LLC

The developer withdrew the request for the extension.

12. Resolution to Appoint the Chairwoman of the Zoning Board of Appeals

RESULT: REFERRED TO COUNTY BOARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/14/2025 6:00 PM  MOVER: Eric Rasmusson, Board Member SECONDER: Joshua Harris, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese ABSENT: White, Greene EXCUSED: Jenkins

13. Resolution to Appoint the Vice Chairman to the Zoning Board of Appeals

Rasmusson left the meeting at 6:53 PM.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COUNTY BOARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/14/2025 6:00 PM  MOVER: Jeff Wynn, Board Member SECONDER: Eric Rasmusson, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese ABSENT: White, Greene EXCUSED: Jenkins

V. New/Old Business 

None

VI. Future Agenda Items 

VII. Monthly Report 

1. Monthly Report Land Use September

VIII. Development Director 

None

IX. Claims 

None

X. Budget Reporting 

1. FY25 Budget Tracking

XI. Special Assignment Reports 

A. Kendall Grundy Farm Bureau 

None

B. Heritage Corridor-G Vota 

Vota told the committee that $119 million has been spent by touring visitors to Grundy County this year.

XII. Executive Session 

None

XIII. Action Taken as a Result of Executive Session 

XIV. Adjournment 

1. Motion to adjourn at 6:57 PM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Joshua Harris, Board Member SECONDER: Joe Plese, Board Member AYES: Rasmusson, Harris, Vota, Wynn, Plese, Jenkins ABSENT: White, Greene

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