Proposed changes to the Ford County’s ordinance regulating wind farms is the focus of a meeting this week in Paxton. Thursday’s meeting is at 7:30 pm at the county courthouse. The meeting could be moved to accommodate a larger crowd.

The county planning commission meets to give opponents and supporters another opportunity to voice concerns.

Details were still being worked out as to how much time would be allowed for public input.

The County Board would have its final say on the matter after committee meetings have reviewed the issue for months.

Wind-farm developers Pattern Energy and Apex Clean Energy have had a vested-interest., Rock said. Also expected to attend are members of the Ford County Board.

The planning commission will review proposed ordinance changes — including a proposal to more than double the distance that wind turbines must be from homes — before voting on whether to recommend the changes be approved by the county’s zoning board of appeals.

The setback issue is expected to draw a lot of opinions.

The setback issue...according to the Ford County Record..... was among the most contentious when the zoning committee met several times over the course of the past year to put together the package of proposed ordinance changes.

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