Dave Pieklik, the county’s economic development director, was silenced by County Attorney Anne Bast Brown while discussing a planned solar farm for the Chiefland area. Listening are Commission Chairman Matt Brooks and Commissioner John Meeks. Commissioner Mike Joyner was absent. He normally sits on the far right.
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
County Attorney Anne Bast Brown Tuesday shut down discussion of a proposed solar farm near Chiefland after warning the county commission it was quasi-judicial.
Board members were obedient to her command. They didn’t say a word about the solar farm after Brown spoke.
Brown didn’t explain why the solar farm was considered quasi-judicial.
When Nature Coast Business Development Council Executive Director David Pieklik was asked by a reporter whether the issue was quasi-judicial due to a future zoning change, she refused to let him answer.
Quasi-judicial means the county commission may take sworn testimony concerning the solar farm. The public hearing won’t be heard by an actual judge as the term suggests. Commissioners will judge the merits of the testimony.
Brown’s order silencing Pieklik and the board resulted when a reporter began asking questions about the solar farm. She also effectively silenced the reporter in a public meeting.
Brown has a standing policy of not speaking to the news media. She doesn’t like being quoted by reporters. She has no choice in a public meeting. Reporters can quote her statements in public meetings.
Pieklik discussed a few details about the solar project before being literally gagged by Brown. Pieklik was giving his quarterly progress report for the period of August through October when he was stopped by Brown.
“We’re going to see the solar farm going into Chiefland across from where Central Florida Electric Cooperative is,” Pieklik said. “It’s going through the permitting stages.”
Pieklik said the project will “open the door” for businesses interested in renewable energy. He said the project will consist of about 200,000 solar panels elevated 12 feet off the ground on 715 acres.
It will generate tax revenue.
“What it really does, you’re looking at a substantial tax benefit, $200,000 to $400,000 just in tax revenues,” Pieklik said.
A website, levysolarproject.com, said the 74.9-megawatt solar farm will occupy 500 acres of the property and will interconnect to Duke Energy’s 69-kilowatt system at the Chiefland substation near CFEC.
Brown didn’t attempt to limit the media from going online to read about the project. She has no power to do so.
Chiefland Health Center
Pieklik said a planned Chiefland health center which is next door to the Chiefland Tax Collector office in south Chiefland is moving forward. A walk-through is planned for Thursday.
He said 10 people will work at the facility, housed in a former Hospice building, including an office manager, security, registered nurse and certified nursing assistants. Pieklik said specialists in urology, cardiology and mammography will visit on scheduled days.
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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting October 20, 2020; Posted October 20, 2020
