The public hearing for Samsung’s Richwood Solar project is seven weeks away and some residents are concerned that Union County has yet to find legal representation for the case.
Members of Citizens Against Richwood Solar (CARS), a resident-driven oppositional organization, visited the county commissioners Wednesday saying they worry time is running out for getting support in place.
“We’re concerned about legal representation for the county and trustees,” resident Bobbie Wright said. “It’s really important to all of us. We have a petition with several hundred people on it. Our community doesn’t want it at all and we just wanted to reiterate that to you folks.”
In February, the board announced it would seek legal counsel to jointly represent the county, Leesburg, Claibourne and Taylor townships in their opposition to the Samsung Richwood Solar project.
Samsung submitted its formal application to the Ohio Power Siting Board in January for the planned 250-megawatt site. That submission kicked off a 60-day period of collecting information to then determine a further investigation. Part of the investigation process allows for property owners to voice support or opposition in the case as well as formally file as an intervenor.
Keith Engle, also a member of CARS, sent county officials a letter earlier this week that outlined the group’s concerns given the hearing next month. In it, he said that the commissioners “missed the opportunity to object to any waivers requested by Samsung when they filed their application if the county had chosen to do so, and the community feels that the county is falling behind in being prepared to face this process.” Engle ultimately said he felt the county wasn’t “taking seriously the procurement of legal expertise.”
In a response, County Administrator Bill Narducci said the county has “reached out to over half a dozen attorneys” in recent weeks “as well as other counties/townships that have required legal representation.”
He said it has been difficult to get counsel as law firms or attorneys that deal with the issue are either tied up with other cases or are no longer representing this issue.
“We had a laundry list of firms that we could look at and I personally am just surprised how many were not available for one reason or another,” he said.
As of this week, the county is currently in talks with an attorney and awaiting an engagement letter.
“We have it refined down to this particular attorney and he had some financial questions and what our expectations were so we’re working through that,” he said. “That (engagement letter is) a formal letter that he will work with us on this project, basically. It’s essentially a contract which would layout his bill rate, what the project is, just a formal agreement, almost like a contract.”
Narducci said, while they are keeping a close eye on the process, the county also hasn’t been completely without legal guidance.
“I wouldn’t characterize it as we’ve missed anything, we have representation right now through the prosecutor’s office but we’re in the process of transitioning that to the formal firm,” he said.
In his response to Engle, Narducci also said he “can assure you that the commissioners are taking this process very seriously, as evidenced by previous actions and discussion by the commissioners relative to this project and solar development in general in Union County.”
He had similar comments to the attending CARS members at Wednesday’s meeting. Wright said the group appreciated that action.
“We do recognize that and we do appreciate it, all of us,” she said.
The public hearing for the Samsung project is scheduled for June 25 at North Union High School at 5 p.m.