Candidates Speak Out On LB 1375

By Gordon HopkinsOne of the bills currently under consideration in the legislature is LB (Legislative Bill) 1375, introduced by Senator John Lowe, District 37, at the behest of Governor Jim Pillen. It is intended to streamline the process of approval of permits by planning and zoning. The governor told the legislature at a hearing on February 7, “The goal of this bill is really simple. It’s to smooth out the process of obtaining a proper permit to do business at the county level.” Some local officials have expressed concerns about the bill. One of the controversial elements of the bill is that it would eliminate the requirement for planning and zoning committees to hold public hearings.Over the last few years, members of the public have been heavily involved in a number of planning and zoning projects under consideration in Jefferson and Gage counties. Meeting places where discussions of the placement of wind turbines and CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) have seen full houses, as members of the public were eager to let county officials know not just their positions but the numbers of people who were for or against proposed projects.The bill also sets a 90-day limit to approve or deny a permit. Position of the CandidatesCurrently, three candidates are running in 2024 for Jefferson County Commissioner, District Two. FJN reached out to all three for their position on the bill.Incumbent Gale Pohlmann said, “After spending several years on the P&Z Committee starting with the inception of zoning in the county, and now nearly eight years as county commissioner, I have been involved with several public hearings from livestock operations to the latest wind regulations just this last spring. Even though at times these hearings can become ‘gripe’ sessions, or pit ‘neighbor against neighbor’, I still believe that allowing the public to express their concerns in an open forum is still the proper way. It is their constitutional right and is transparent. With a written comments only, sometimes you wonder if comments are read or just put in piles labeled ‘for’ or ‘against’. I submitted comments online for the committee expressing my opposition to LB1375.”Although she had been heavily involved in the wind farm debate and attended most of the meetings, candidate Danielle Schwab did not indicate her position. She told FJN, “Thank you for the opportunity but I don’t think anything needs to be added on my behalf.” Candidate Doug Brown, who currently serves on the Fairbury City Council, did not respond.Gage County Supervisor Don Schuller recently filed for re-election. He told FJN via email, “In regard to proposed legislation LB1375: This bill is designed to streamline the process of obtaining a special use permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. It would change the county zoning process. Regrettably, I do not know all there is to know about it, but one component is having a 90-day limit to review and approve/deny a permit. It would be impossible for the Gage County P & Z Commission to accomplish this.”“LB1375 is a direct result of counties not following their own rules,” wrote Schuller. “I believe in allowing the public to voice their concerns in person at a public hearing. When there are regulations created by P & Z and approved by the county board, they should be followed. This is what potential businesses look at before asking for a special use permit. If regulations need to be changed, it should be done when there are no standing permit applications. Gage County put a moratorium on permits for solar farms while regulations were being established. It isn’t right to take a permit application and alter the rules specifically for each application.”Schuller added, “I hope this bill doesn’t pass or is altered to maintain local control. I absolutely believe in local control.”

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