EATON – During their Wednesday, July 7 meeting, Preble County Commissioners heard from county resident Jane Marshall who voiced concerns about a public record request she made in June about proposed solar farm projects, and the lack of commissioners’ approval she found on some of the stipulations and agreements.

“They didn’t approve it, they noted receipt of it,” Marshall told commissioners.

“You can see that it doesn’t mean you agree with it, it just means that you’re noting receipt of it to put it in the journal,” she continued. “This is a contract. This is an agreement. It’s not been approved by you.”

Actions taken on the stipulation agreements predate the current board of commissioners. “But there’s no commissioner signatures on these stipulation agreements,” Marshall said, noting the only names on the agreements were attorneys. “Commissioners sign. You’ve only noted receipt of these agreements — you haven’t approved the agreements,” she said.

“I just think you all need to look at this stuff, because this is a big deal in the county. You have a lot of people that are very unhappy with solar,” Marshall added. “The only people that are happy with solar are the people that are being paid for it. And this should be a local decision. I think you ought to rescind all of this nonsense, and then you guys can decide what you want to do but make educated decisions.”

Marshall, herself a previous Preble County Commissioner, stressed the commission staff had been “wonderful.”

“I’m not complaining about anybody in this office,” she said. “Probably I’m complaining a lot about the people you replaced — all of the people you replaced, not just two — all of them.”

“There’s no, ‘I move we note receipt and approve’ — it doesn’t say that, it says, ‘we note receipt.’ That’s an issue. When you say, ‘I move we note receipt and approve,’ then you’re going to sign the agreement,” she added. “This is all real weird stuff. And every time I’ve seen weird stuff in my life, it’s not good stuff.”

In other business

The board approved a resolution recognizing and proclaiming July 24, 2021, as Eaton-Lewisburg Lions Club Centennial Celebration Day in Preble County.

The resolution noted, “Whereas the Eaton-Lewisburg Lions Club is a member of the Lions Club International, the world’s largest service club organization with 1.4 billion members and 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas, and whereas Lions Club International was founded in 1970 and is celebrating 100 years of humanitarian service, and whereas the Eaton-Lewisburg Lions Club, established in 1938, is comprised of volunteers who dedicate their time to the betterment of our communities and aiding those in need, and whereas, the Eaton-Lewisburg Lions Club is hosting a ceremony as part of the Lions Club International centennial celebration, the Board of Preble County Commissioners does hereby recognize and proclaim July 24, 2021, as Eaton-Lewisburg Lions Club Centennial Celebration Day.”

The board also approved for publication two legal ads, one regarding the continuation of business meeting to further discuss the proposed Norfolk Southern projects, and another regarding bids for Third, Voge and Second Street drainage and street improvements for CI Allocation Projects from Community Development Block Grant funding.

The board signed a website development and maintenance agreement with Tech Force Onsite in the amount of $5,000 for Juvenile Court and signed a Title XX Employment Transportation Services agreement with Miami Valley Community Action Partnership in the amount of $5,000 for Job & Family Services. Also signed was an FCFC program coordination agreement between FCFC and Preble County Developmental Disabilities in the amount of $7,875 for FCFC.

The board also signed child placements agreement with BHC Fox Run Hospital Inc. in the amount of $50,000 for Children Services, with City of Refuge Inc., DBA One Way Farm, in the amount of $10,000 for Children Services, and with Mid-Western Children’s Home in the amount of $27,857 for FCFC. An amendment was also signed for a child placement agreement with Restoration Ranch of Ohio Inc., increasing the amount $75,000 for Children Services.