Shannon Cauble, Moore County Highway Department Superintendent, addressed the Moore County Metro Council during the March meeting regarding ongoing problems with the solar farm. She takes issue with the report that Silicon Ranch and LPL Solar gave the council at last month’s meeting, stating that remediation steps they had taken were working well. They reported that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) inspection would show no violations.

Cauble admitted they LPL Solar had put in additional rock, had added rumble strips, and ran sweepers all day, and there had been some improvement. However, mud is still being tracked out onto roadways. With the recent cold spell, the mud had frozen and the roadways are all cracking as a result. In some spots the roads are completely crumbling. Sweepers are still using private driveways to turn around, and rain events are still causing Hurricane Creek to run from muddy to milky. Equipment that should not be on the roads at all is, indeed, being taken out onto roads. Flaggers are not being used when site traffic blocks lanes.

To prove her points, Cauble brought an array of pictures to show council members. There followed a discussion on what to do to gain compliance with the formal agreement. The agreement states Silicon Ranch will repair any damages done due to their construction. There is a video record of the roadways prior to construction, so damage would be easily identifi ed. Rather than waiting until the project is finished, there are places that need repair before they become hazardous to local traffic, which could be in the near future. Cauble also pointed out that the final site plan was approved with 11 points of ingress/egress, but she has counted 29. Some of them had since been barricaded, but others, she feels, use the barricade more as a gate considering the tracks going in and out.

Greg Guinn questioned whether the council could issue a stop work order until repairs are made. County Attorney Bill Rieder answered that he will research the issue to determine what steps the council might take to bring Silicon Ranch and LPL Soler into compliance with the agreement. Dexter Golden reminded the council that he asked Silicon Ranch and LPL Solar to report back the findings of the TDEC inspection, and was told they would. However, they have not returned to either the Planning and Zoning Commission or the Metro Council meetings.

The council voted to have County Attorney Rieder to draft a letter detailing compliance issues, what repairs need to be made, and the county’s options to enforce compliance if needed. The matter will be reviewed again by next Metro Council meeting.