By 25 News
BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Board granted a special use permit for solar panels to be installed in Bloomington Township, and renewed permits for three other solar farms in the county.
The board during its monthly meeting Thursday night also extended the contract of County Administrator Cassy Taylor for five years and gave her a raise, and agreed to relinquish the county’s control of major roadway in Chenoa.
The new special use permit is for a solar farm on almost 81 acres in Bloomington Township, just north of Old Colonial Road and 1600 East Road.
The board renewed special use permits for three other planned solar farms that haven’t been built yet. They are on a nearly 20-acre property in Bloomington Township, just south of 925 North Road, less than a mile east of U.S. Highway 51, 74 acres in Old Town Township near Downs by Interstate 74, and on 26 acres of Gridley Township farmland just northeast of the U.S. Route 24-2280 East Road intersection.
All four special use requests came from the global firm Amp Solar Development Inc., which has U.S. headquarters in Denver, according to the company’s website.
Board extends county administrator’s contract
Without comment, the board unanimously approved a five-year contract extension with County Administrator Cassy Taylor that boosts her overall compensation by about 8%,
Taylor’s base salary will rise to $164,428. She’ll be compensated for using her personal car for county business, and the county government will contribute $13,000 to Taylor’s retirement fund.
The board appointed Taylor to the position last year after the former administrator, Camille Rodriguez, moved to Colorado.
Northern McLean County city gains control of major roadway
County government will no longer be responsible for maintaining Division Street, also known as County Highway 19 in Chenoa.
An intergovernmental agreement approved by board has the county paying Chenoa $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for road improvements, having contributed $225,000 for Division Street upgrades last year.
Two years ago, the county reconstructed Division Street, from Boles Street to U.S. Route 24, and plans to resurface the north part of Division from Route 24 to Route 66.
The agreement states that “upon making the transfer, McLean County shall have no further responsibility for repair, maintenance, or improvement and no authority over the forementioned portions of Division Street.”
