WASHINGTON 

Tuesday’s supervisors meeting had a more than hour-long debate/discussion between the supervisors, primarily by Marcus Fedler and company spokesman Eric Brionis about Deriva Energy’s proposal to develop a 10,000-acre wind energy conversion farm four miles north of the City of Washington.

The discussion followed a brief public comment opening in which two county residents expressed concerns about what they called an “invasion project,” while also acknowledging individual property rights.  However, referring to Frost’s famous line of good fences makes good neighbors, Jeff Cuddebeck asked the board to provide the only one possible: an ordinance regulating setbacks to a half-mile distance from habitable structures. The proposal would involve some 250 towers in a 200-megawatt operation, enough power for 65,000 homes.

Much of the subsequent discussion dealt with the setback that Deriva asked to change to 1,500 feet; otherwise, Brionis said, the project would not be possible.  Other details involved a likely public meeting and the difference between a private for-profit company and a public utility in regard to eminent domain action. After the discussion, the Deriva presentation concluded with no action taken; however, the issue may be on another agenda.

In immediate other business, the board approved employment termination for patrol deputy Noah Schlabaugh, effective March 1, following his resignation Friday, extending best wishes to him.

The board approved several hirings for the county ambulance services: Gretchen Gerot, EMT, full-time, $24.44 hourly, effective March 14; level 1, Josh Eicher, EMT, full time, level 2, $24.94 hourly, effective March 5;  Jake Petersen, EMT, level 2, $24.44, effective March 20; Jordan Heyvaert, full time, Field Supervisor, $39.16 hourly, effective March 20; Melissa Handy, full-time medic, March 20;  Steve Ebersole, part-time to full-time medic, March 20; Aaron Olson, full-time medic, $39.16, April 1.

The board accepted the termination of Jeffrey Lavren, part-time medic, level 5, effective March 3, and accepted the termination of Jeremy Peck, as the Washington County Ambulance Services Administrator, effective February 29.  He had been the first administrator of the county service and had been on an indefinite leave with Katrina Altenhofen serving as the interim administrator.  No comments were made about the personnel changes for the department.