* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:08] OKAY, CHAIRMAN MOER WITH THE, UH, WITH COMMISSIONER HOWE JOINING THE, THE COMMISSION NOW HAS A QUORUM. JUST OF NOTE FOR THE COMMISSION. JUST OF NOTE FOR THE COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER CONTRERAS AND COMMISSIONER HOWE ARE CURRENTLY ONLINE. I WILL LET YOU KNOW AS APPROPRIATE WITH A BREAK IF ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS JOIN AT THAT POINT IN TIME. BUT WE'RE GOOD TO CONVENE THE MEETING AS YOU'RE READY. OKAY. WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. IF YOU'LL, IF YOU'LL JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION OF GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. WE WELCOME EVERYONE HERE THIS EVENING. UH, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL GET RIGHT TO OUR AGENDA. WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND IF YOU, IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED IN, WOULD YOU PLEASE DO SO IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON A SPECIFIC ITEM OR YEAH, PLEASE, PLEASE SIGN IN THERE. YOU GOT SOME CODY? YEAH, THEY'VE SIGNED IT. OKAY. UH, [1. REVIEW OF AGENDA BY COMMISSIONERS: ] REVIEW OF THE AGENDA BY THE COMMISSIONERS. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS ABOUT THE AGENDA HAS HERE AND NONE WILL WE'LL MOVE ON. ITEM NUMBER [2. CALL TO PUBLIC FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: Individuals may address the Commission on any relevant issue for up to 3 minutes. Any presentations must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. At the close of the call to the public, Commission members may not respond to any comments but may respond to criticism, ask staff to review a matter or ask that a matter be placed on a future agenda.] TWO IS THE CALL TO THE PUBLIC FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. INDIVIDUALS MAY ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ANY RELEVANT ISSUE FOR UP TO THREE MINUTES. ANY PRESENTATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE CLOSE OF THE CALL TO PUBLIC COMMISSION. MEMBERS MAY NOT RESPOND TO ANY COMMENTS BUT MAY RESPOND TO CRITICISM. ASK STAFF TO REVIEW A MATTER OR ASK THAT A MATTER BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA. SO IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WANTS TO DO THE CALL TO THE PUBLIC FOR AN ITEM? NOT ON THE AGENDA. OKAY. HEARING NONE. WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER [3. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE COMMISSION HEARING OF: October 16th, 2025.] THREE. UH, CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE COMMISSION HEARING ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2025. JACK, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE COMMISSION HEARING OCTOBER 16TH, 2025 AS PUBLISHED. I'LL SECOND THAT. UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. UH, WE'LL VOTE NOW. ALL ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. THAT PASSES. UH, ITEM [4. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE 2026 P&Z CALENDAR:] NUMBER FOUR, THE CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF THE 2026 PLANNING AND ZONING CALENDAR. DID EVERYONE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT? PRETTY MUCH THE THIRD THURSDAY EVERY, EVERY TIME THIS MONTH, WASN'T IT? OR THIS YEAR? GOD, WE ALWAYS DO IT THAT WAY. YEAH, THAT IS CORRECT. CHAIRMAN, IT WOULD BE THE, THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 6:00 PM WHICH HAS BEEN THE STANDARD FOR THE COMMISSION. UM, WE DO NEED TO FORMALLY ADOPT, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE ANY CHANGES, UM, PLEASE JUST LET US KNOW WITH ANY MOTIONS HERE. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE, UH, 2026 P AND Z CALENDAR AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO US. ALL SET? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. ITEM [5. SUP 25-004 WINDING CANYON WIND - MET TOWER, DISTRICT III: Consideration of a request for a Special Use Permit for the construction and operation of one meteorological monitoring tower (MET tower) on approximately .7479 acres of vacant land southwest of Joseph City. APN#: 111-07-003A, T16N, R17E, S05, 07, 09, 17 of the GSRM. Owner: Aztec Land & Cattle Company, Ltd. Agent: Kevin Gooley. ] NUMBER FIVE SUP 25 DASH 0 0 4. THE WINDING CANYON WIND MET TOWER DISTRICT THREE CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF ONE METER LOGICAL MONITORING TOWER. MET TOWER ON APPROXIMATELY 0.7479 ACRES OF VACANT LAND SOUTHWEST OF JOE CITY. UH, A PN IS 1 1 1 DASH ZERO SEVEN DASH 0 0 3. A UH, OWNER IS AZTEC LAND AND TITLE AND CATTLE COMPANY AND THE AGENT IS, UH, KEVIN GOOLEY AND CATHERINE'S GONNA PRESENT IT FOR US THIS EVENING. GOOD EVENING, CHAIR. [00:05:02] ARE YOU GOOD NOW? OKAY. UH, GOOD EVENING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, BEFORE YOU AS SUP 25 DASH ZERO FOUR WINDING CANYON WIND MET TOWER. THE PROJECT IS ON A PN 1 1 1 DASH ZERO SEVEN DASH ZERO THREE A, WHICH IS 2761.22 ACRES. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL TOWER IS ON 0.7479 ACRES. THAT IS ZONE A GENERAL. THE OWNER IS AZTEC LAND AND CATTLE COMPANY LIMITED. THIS MET TOWER WILL COLLECT METEOROLOGICAL DATA FOR A FUTURE POTENTIAL WIND ENERGY GENERATION FACILITY. THE TOWER IS 272 FEET TALL, WHICH INCLUDES A ONE TO TWO METER LIGHTNING ROD. THE MET TOWER IS EXPECTED TO OPERATE FOR UP TO SEVEN YEARS. THE GENERAL VICINITY IS ROUGHLY 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JOSEPH CITY. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP, THESE FOUR HIGHLIGHTED SQUARES MAKE UP THE FULL PARCEL OF THE 2761.22 ACRES. BUT AS I MENTIONED THIS, MET TOWER WILL ONLY BE UTILIZING 0.7479 ACRES ON THE FAR RIGHT PARCEL. BASICALLY WHERE THE RED ARROW POINTS TO. UM, HERE IS A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE SITE PLAN. THE SETBACKS FAR EXCEED THE ONE-TO-ONE NON-RESIDENTIAL SETBACK. THE SMALLEST OF THE SETBACKS IS 1667.97 FEET BEFORE YOU ARE EXAMPLES OF WHAT THE MET TOWER WOULD LOOK LIKE. AND THIS IS A SCHEMATIC DRAWING OF THE TOWER LAYOUT, INCLUDING THE GUY WIRES. SO NAVAJO COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR WINDING CANYON WIND MET TOWER SUBJECT TO THE 17 CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT. AND ALSO BEFORE YOU, THERE WERE 28 EMAILS AGAINST TWO EMAILS IN SUPPORT AND 11 VOICEMAILS AGAINST. THERE ARE PRINTED COPIES AVAILABLE FOR EACH OF YOU COMMISSIONERS IN FRONT OF YOU. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, AND THE AGENT KEVIN GOOLEY IS HERE AS WELL. SHOULD YOU PREFER TO INQUIRE ABOUT ANY MORE SPECIFICS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY COMMENT QUESTIONS FOR CATHERINE WHILE SHE'S STILL HERE? NO, NOT RIGHT NOW. OKAY. WE'LL, UH, WE'LL OPEN THIS, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'RE DOING, UH, THANK YOU CATHERINE. WE'LL DO OPPOSITION OR OR PRO AT THE SAME TIME. YOU JUST TELL US, UH, THE NAVAJO COUNTY COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ITEM. THE COMMISSION WILL NOW HEAR COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM. COMMENTERS WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE ITEM. THE COMMISSION ASKS THAT COMMENTERS LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO NEW COMMENTS. IF A POINT OF SUPPORT OR CONCERN HAS ALREADY BEEN RAISED, PLEASE ONLY CONTINUE WITH NEW POINTS OF SUPPORT OR CONCERN. THE COMMISSION STAFF AND THE APPLICANT WILL NOT RESPOND TO COMMENTS DURING THE COMMENT PERIOD, BUT WILL NOTE CONCERNS. ONCE ALL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN HEARD, THE COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE CLOSED. AT THIS TIME, THE COMMISSION WILL ADDRESS STAFF AND THE APPLICANT WITH QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. FOLLOWING THIS, A MOTION WILL BE MADE BY THE COMMISSION. THE MOTION FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT TONIGHT WILL SOLELY BE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THERE WILL BE A FURTHER HEARING WITH THE NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AT WHICH A, A DECISION WILL BE MADE. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST TO NOTE, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY, UH, REQUESTS TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING. UM, AT YOUR DISCRETION, YOU CAN CERTAINLY ASK THE CROWD IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS FOR SPEAKING RIGHT NOW. OKAY. WE, WE WILL DO THE, DOES WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER? IF YOU'LL, IF YOU'LL STAND UP THERE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. MY NAME'S, MY NAME'S LLOYD JOHNSON. ADDRESS IS TWO 19 ENCANTO DRIVE. HOLBROOK. UH, I'M CANDIDATE FIRST STATE SENATE, BUT, UH, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHICH UH, ITEMS HAVE BEEN COVERED, BUT I HOPE I'M NOT, UH, NOT NONE HAVE BEEN COVERED. NOTHING YET. OKAY. YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. OKAY. ALRIGHT. MY 1, 1 1 MAIN CONCERN IS WILDLIFE AND ANIMALS. UH, WIND TURBINES HAVE GOT A HISTORY OF AROUND THE WORLD [00:10:01] OF CREATING HAVOC WITH ANIMALS, UH, CAUSING LIKE, UH, HORSES, YOUNG HORSES TO HAVE HOOF PROBLEMS. THEY HAD BEEN HAVING, UH, ROUND CHICKENS, LAYING EGGS WITH NO SHELLS, UH, CATTLE PROBLEMS, UH, NOT BEING ABLE TO REPRODUCE. THE POWER THAT'S BROUGHT ON BY THESE IS NOT AS AFFORDABLE AS WHAT THEY'RE CLAIMING THEY ARE. IT MEANS HIGHER PRICE, ELECTRICITY. THERE ARE MUCH BETTER FORMS OF ELECTRICITY THAN THE WIND TURBINES. AND THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS TOWER IS FOR PUTTING IN THE WIND TURBINES AND WIND TURBINES WE DO NOT NEED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BEAUTIFUL. UH, A LOT OF AREAS GET THE TOURISTS DRIVING THROUGH. NO TOURISTS ARE GONNA BE DRIVING THROUGH TO SEE SOME MONSTER UP IN THE AIR THAT, UH, THAT, AND IF THEY CATCH ON FIRE, WHICH THEY DO HAVE A TENDENCY TO CATCH ON FIRE, NO RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE CAPABLE OF PUTTING 'EM OUT. THE BEST THEY CAN DO IS WATCH WHEN THE FLAMES HIT THE GROUND, PUT PUT 'EM OUT AND WATCH THAT BLACK SMOKE ROLL ROLL THROUGH THE COMMUNITY. UH, THERE'S NOT REALLY, UH, ANY, UH, POSITIVE ABOUT WIND TURBINES EXCEPT FOR THE GUY THAT'S STICKING THE DOLLARS IN HIS POCKET. HE'S GOT POSITIVES ABOUT IT. YEAH. BUT AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S NO ADVANTAGE FOR WIND TURBINES. THAT, UH, PRETTY MUCH COVERS WHAT I'VE GOT. THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. SEEING NONE AND HEARING NONE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ONLINE DO WE? CODY? UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED. UH, DO WE HAVE A DEVELOPER HERE, CATHERINE, THAT WE DO WE WANT TO, YEAH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ASK SPECIFICS, UM, THE AGENT KEVIN GOOLEY IS AVAILABLE. OKAY. WOULD HE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS? UM, YES. UH, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. UH, MY NAME'S KEVIN GULLY. I'M WITH EDP RENEWABLES. UM, SO I'M A PROJECT MANAGER FOR THIS, UH, THE WINDING CANYON WIND PROJECT. UM, HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ON THE MET TOWER APPLICATION WE'VE SUBMITTED. I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? UM, YES, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND THIS DON'T KNOW IF IT'S APPLICABLE TO YOU OR TO STAFFORD TO BOTH, BUT I NOTICED IN THE APPLICATION, UH, THE, THE LIFE OF THIS, OR THE USE USEFUL LIFE OF THIS FOR YOU GUYS IS GONNA BE SEVEN YEARS IN THE PAST. CODY, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD, HAD THESE MET TOWERS PUT UP THAT THE DEVELOPERS WANTED AND LEFT THERE FOR LONG TERM MONITORING. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION FOR YOU WOULD BE ON DOWN THE ROAD, AT THE END OF THAT SEVEN YEARS, IS THAT THE POTENTIAL OF YOU COMING BACK TO THE COUNTY AND SAYING, WELL, WE DECIDED WE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE MET TOWER DOWN. WE WANNA LEAVE IT UP FOR FUTURE MONITORING OF, OF THE AREA WHILE THE, THE WIND TURBINES ARE IN, IN, UM, IN PRODUCTIVITY MODE. MM-HMM . ANSWER THAT. SORRY, WHAT I CAN ANSWER. OKAY. YEAH. UM, VICE CHAIR, UM, THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR CONDITIONS THAT'S LISTED. UM, I SAW THAT NUMBER 13. WITHIN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE TOWER CEASES TO BE USED, THE APPLICANT AT THEIR SOLE EXPENSE SHALL REMOVE THE TOWER AND ANY ACCESSORIES FROM THE SITE. SO THAT IS ONE OF OUR, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO, SO WOULD THERE BE A PROCESS FOR THEM WHERE THEY CAN COME BACK TO THE COUNTY AND ASK TO EXTEND BEYOND THAT SEVEN YEAR PERIOD TO CONTINUE USING THAT? I REALIZED THEY COULDN'T DO IT THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN NOW, BUT IS THERE AN AVENUE FOR THEM TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY AND SAY, WELL, WE DECIDED WE'D ALL WANT TO TAKE IT DOWN NOW WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE USE IT FOR MONITORING PURPOSES DURING THE, YOU KNOW, DURING THE PRODUCTION PHASE OF THE, OF THE, UH, WIND TOWERS WORKING. 'CAUSE SOME OF THESE OTHERS HAVE, THEY'VE WANTED TO LEAVE THEM UP, RIGHT? THEY WANTED TO USE 'EM FOR MONITORING WHILE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, WHILE THEY'RE OPERATING. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW THAT, THAT PLAYS OUT IN THE EVENT THAT THE APPLICANT COMES BACK AND SAYS, WELL, IT'S SEVEN YEARS, BUT WE FIND THIS PRETTY USEFUL, SO WE'RE JUST GONNA LEAVE IT UP. CORRECT. I'LL DEFER TO CODY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. OKAY. , I'M JUST, I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW THAT WOULD BE HANDLED. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION THERE. VICE CHAIR SMITH? YES. SO THE COUNTY DOES HAVE, UH, A PROCESS CALLED THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT TIME EXTENSION. UM, THAT CAN BE COMPLETED ADMINISTRATIVELY FOR UP TO 90 DAYS, BUT ANYTHING ABOVE 90 DAYS WOULD GO BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, UM, FOR ANY EXTENSION BEYOND THE, THE LIFE OF A, A PROJECT AS STATED IN AN APPLICATION. UM, SO THERE IS THAT PROCESS. IF THEY WANTED TO EXTEND THAT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE. UM, [00:15:01] AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, THE COMMISSION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PENDING ANY LAW CHANGES AND REPRESENT AND MAKE THE CASE AS TO WHY IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO EXTEND ONWARDS, UM, AND LOOK AT WHETHER THERE NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, UH, FURTHER CONDITIONS FOR IT TO BE MORE PERMANENT AND IN PLACE OUT THERE. OKAY. ONE OTHER, ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR YOU, CODY. UM, HISTORICALLY, 'CAUSE THESE HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, DO WE, DOES THE, DOES THE COUNTY HAVE A, A RECORD OF GOING BACK AND CHECKING THE ONES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REMOVED, HAVE BEEN REMOVED? 'CAUSE WELL, I'M SEEING SOME OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEEN UP THERE A REALLY LONG TIME AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT STATUS IS. SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY'S EVEN GOT THE STAFF OF THE TIME TO MONITOR AND SAY, OKAY, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A YEAR PAST WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE THIS MET TOWER DOWN, AND IS THERE ANY MONITORING OF THAT? YES. VICE CHAIR SMITH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IN, IN SHORT AND IN ALONG WITH THAT, UM, A REQUEST HAD COME UP A FEW YEARS AGO WITH SOME OF THE METOW EXTENSIONS THAT WENT THROUGH THE COUNTY TO EXTEND FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF STUDY. UM, FROM THERE, STAFF ENDED UP MAKING A GIS MAP AND REACHING OUT TO LANDOWNERS AS WELL AS GOING TO LOCATIONS TO SEE WHICH MET TOWERS WERE ACTIVE AND WHICH MET TOWERS HAD BEEN REMOVED, UH, AND WHICH PERMITS WERE THERE. IN ADDITION, IN THE PAST YEAR, UM, WE'VE CREATED A, A DEPARTMENTAL CALENDAR FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THAT WILL PROVIDE REMINDERS ON ANNIVERSARIES OF SET DATES, SUCH AS, UM, WHEN A, A PERMIT WOULD BE SET TO EXPIRE. UM, AND THOSE DO WARN US AHEAD OF TIME TO REACH OUT TO THE APPLICANT TO, TO FUNCTIONALLY SAY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO APPLY TO EXTEND OTHERWISE, IF YOU'RE NO LONGER USING THIS, YOU NEED TO, TO GO THROUGH, UM, WITH WHAT'S BEEN LAID OUT IN THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND HAVE THAT REMOVED AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THAT. SO WE HAVE KIND OF TWOFOLD. WE HAVE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS GONE THROUGH AND STUDIED ALL OF THE MET TOWERS THAT HAVE BEEN PERMITTED IN THE COUNTY AND WE'VE CREATED THIS SYSTEM TO TRACK MOVING FORWARD AS WELL. THANK YOU. THAT'S HELPFUL. YOU, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS ONLINE? ANYBODY? I HAVE A COMMENT, NOT A QUESTION. NOTHING FROM COMMISSIONER HUNTER. THANK YOU. UH, GO AHEAD AND MAKE A COMMENT. OKAY. OKAY. SO, UM, WE HAVE A STACK OF PAPERS HERE, A BIG STACK, AND THESE ARE ALL NEGATIVE COMMENTS AND, UH, FRANKLY, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT WE CAN GET SO MANY EMAILS, BUT YET WE HAD ONE PERSON THAT ACTUALLY DROVE DOWN HERE TO MAKE A COMMENT. UM, W WE'RE ESSENTIALLY ELECTED TO SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE. AND, AND I, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE. AGAIN, IT, IT TICKS ME OFF THAT, THAT NO ONE ELSE SHOWED UP, BUT I DO SEE THE SUPPORT. I SEE THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT THIS. UM, I, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN 'EM, BUT I, I WANTED TO TO LIKE GO OVER A COUPLE OF THESE. UH, THIS ONE WAS FROM CADEN WESTOVER, AND IT SAYS TO THE DUMB ASSES THAT KEEP RUINING OUR LAND. I'M SENDING THIS EMAIL FOR THE WHOLE, FROM THE WHOLE TOWN OF JOE CITY. WE DO NOT WANT THIS MET TOWER OR ANY OF THESE WINDMILLS OR SOLAR PROJECTS. WE DO NOT WANT IT BECAUSE IT IS RUINING OUR ONLY FOREST RUINING OUR LEASE LAND THAT WAS ONCE USED FOR CATTLE. SO I'M AN INVESTOR, I'M A REAL ESTATE INVESTOR. I, I AM PRO DEVELOPMENT. I LIKE DEVELOPMENT. UM, WE'VE HA WE'VE SEEN STUFF COME FROM THE CATTLE COMPANY AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS IN HERE, THERE WAS ONCE USED FOR THE CATTLE COMPANY. IT'S THE CATTLE COMPANY IS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY SAYING, HERE'S MY LAND, USE IT. UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO FEEL LIKE HE HAS SOME, HE HAS TO TAKE SOME, UH, OWNERSHIP OF WHAT HE HAS. HE WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO ROLL INTO THIS AREA AND KIND OF INHERIT THIS LAND. ESSENTIALLY. IT WAS ONE IN A WILD, WILD WEST TYPE ATMOSPHERE WHERE IT WAS KIND OF FIRST COME, FIRST TAKE. AND THAT'S WHY THIS CATTLE COMPANY OWNS A BUNCH OF IT. UM, I'M ALSO A BIG TIME CATTLE GUY. I HAVE LOTS OF HORSES. I OWN COWS. I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE RANCHES IN THESE AREAS AND THEY'RE LOSING THEIR RANCHES AND I DON'T LIKE THAT EITHER. I, I'M NOT ONE BIT WORRIED ABOUT THE AZTEC LAND AND CATTLE COMPANY. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE. I'M NO OFFENSE TO THE DEVELOPERS, BUT WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I LIVE IN OREGON. YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED. UM, SO ANYWAYS, NO QUESTIONS ON MY END. JUST COMMENTS. I I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO AS SUPPORT THE PEOPLE. AND AGAIN, IF IT'S IN THE NOTES, SHOW UP NEXT TIME. BUT [00:20:01] I DO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS 'CAUSE THAT'S THE FEEDBACK WE NEED TO HEAR. OKAY. CHAIRMAN CODY, YOU HAVE A, I I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER HOWE MADE A, MAY HAVE HAD SOME QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ONLINE AS WELL IF YOU'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN THOSE. COMMISSIONER HOWE? OH, ACTUALLY I WAS SAYING I DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS, SO SINCERE APOLOGIES. SINCERE APOLOGIES THERE. COMMISSIONER HOWE, I MISHEARD YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS? KAY. HEARING NONE, WE'LL HAVE A WE'LL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UM, APPROVAL AND, AND, AND I GUESS I'D LIKE TO PREFACE THIS WITH THOSE THAT ARE HERE. UNDERSTANDING JUST APPROVAL OF THE MET TOWER DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE WIND FARM'S GOING TO GO IN AND I THINK SOME OF THE PUBLIC IS NOT CLEAR ON THAT, BUT THEY CAN'T EVEN PETITION US FOR A, A, UM, A WIND FARM UNTIL THEY KNOW THEY HAVE DATA THAT WOULD ACTUALLY SUPPORT THAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. AND SO I THINK THAT LOGAN IN, IN DEFERENCE TO YOU, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, I I I THINK WHEN THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT IT, THAT IT, IT SHOULD CERTAINLY GET OUR ATTENTION, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THIS PHASE TO TELL SOMEBODY THEY CAN'T EVEN INVESTIGATE AND DO THE RESEARCH ON THEIR DIME WHEN WE HAVE LET EVERY OTHER DEVELOPER COME THROUGH HERE AND DO THAT IS PROBABLY NOT APPROPRIATE EITHER. UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, KNOWING THAT THIS ISSUE'S GONNA BE REVISITED AGAIN WHEN IT COMES BEFORE US, IF THEY DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS WIND FARM, THAT'S WHEN I WOULD EXPECT THAT YOU ARE GONNA SEE THIS ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTING TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AND SAY, WE STILL DON'T WANT IT. WE DON'T CARE WHAT THE MET MET TOWER INFORMATION GAVE YOU. WE STILL DON'T WANT IT. SO IF I'M INCORRECT, WOULD YOU CORRECT ME ON THAT? AM I, IS THAT A FAIR ASSUMPTION, CODY? SORRY, COULD YOU CLARIFY WHICH PART YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? THE CLARIFICATION ABOUT CHAIR SMITH? WELL, JUST IN, IN TERMS OF, IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT THE, THAT THIS IS JUST FOR THE MET TOWER, THIS DOESN'T BY ANY MEANS, MEAN THAT THE WIND TAR FARM IS GOING IN. IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ITS OWN PUBLIC PROCESS. THAT IS CORRECT. VICE CHAIR SMITH, THIS IS A PRELIMINARY IN A VACUUM PERMIT ON ITS OWN. UM, IT'S FUNCTIONALLY A WEATHER STATION TO GO STUDY WIND CONDITIONS WITHIN THE AREA. UM, THIS DOES NOT VEST OR ENTITLE INTO ANY RIGHTS FOR ANY OTHER TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD. THOSE WOULD ALL BE SEPARATE. UM, AND THEY HAVE A, A SEPARATE SET OF VERY STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS HERE THROUGH THE COUNTY AS FAR AS TYPES OF STUDIES AND INFORMATION THAT WOULD NEED TO BE PRESENT GIVEN THE SCOPE. WELL THEN I, I, I, UM, I STAND BY MY MOTION WITH THAT BEING SAID, BECAUSE OF OUR, OUR, UM, HISTORY AND, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN A GOOD HISTORY OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SPEND THAT MONEY TO RESEARCH WHETHER THIS TYPE OF A DEVELOPMENT IS, IS APPROPRIATE OR NOT, OR AFFORDABLE OR NOT, OR THE AREA'S RIGHT OR NOT. I THINK WE, WE NEED TO ALLOW THESE APPLICANTS TO SPEND THAT SAME DOLLAR TO DECIDE ON THAT. AND WE LET THE RUST, UM, DECIDE ITSELF IF THEY DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN APPLICATION FOR THE WHIM FORM. SO I MAKE A, MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE OF THE METOW SUP, UM, APPLICATION OR, OR THE PERMIT FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THE, THE MET TOWER IN DISTRICT THREE. SORRY. AND JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE VERBIAGE, VICE CHAIR, IT'S JUST THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL THERE. I'M SORRY, YEAH. FOR TOWER, RECOMMEND COMMENDING THAT TO THE BOARD OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL SECOND IT WITH AN EXPLANATION ALSO. JACK, PUT YOUR TURN HERE ON, THERE YOU GO. I'LL, I'LL SECOND IT WITH A EXPLANATION. ALSO, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF WINDMILLS, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WINDMILLS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A WEATHER STATION. WINDMILLS WILL COME LATER IF THEY DECIDE TO DO THAT. I THINK LIKE THE, UH, VICE SHERIFF SAID THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT, IF THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S WIND GOING THROUGH THERE AND NOT WIND A HALF A MILE AWAY. SO, UM, THE WINDMILLS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ISSUE AND THAT'LL COME UP FOR A FUTURE VOTE IF THEY DECIDE TO GO THERE. BUT FOR THE WEATHER STATION, I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY, ANY OPPOSED? AYE. SO JUST TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONER ROGERS WAS OPPOSED? YES. OKAY, THANK YOU. JUST TO NOTE THERE THAT I WAS A, THAT I WAS FOR A NAY. YES, SIR. NO, YOU, YOU'RE QUITE ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD AND FOR THE MINUTES THERE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ROGERS AND CHAIRMAN [00:25:01] MITTER. THANK YOU. THANKS CATHERINE AND CODY BOTH. YEAH. THANK YOU. [7. ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2026: Election of Chair and Vice-Chair, effective in January 2026.] ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, CODY, YOU WANT TO TALK ON THIS? I CAN'T QUITE REMEMBER WHAT IT IS, SO I ABSOLUTELY WILL. THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2026. THANK YOU. UH, YES. SO, UH, WE STARTED THIS LAST YEAR, UM, TRYING TO GO THROUGH WITH THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR THAT WOULD FOLLOW. UM, WE TRIED TO SET IT UP SO IT WAS A LITTLE LESS CONFUSING THIS YEAR, PUTTING IT AFTER THE ITEMS INSTEAD OF IN FRONT, MAKING PEOPLE WONDER ABOUT THE SHUFFLE. UM, BUT JUST IN CASE THERE'S ANY CHANGES TO CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE THAT PERSON ADEQUATE TIME TO, TO PREPARE MENTALLY, UM, FOR THAT ROLE AND ASK US ANY QUESTIONS AS FAR AS GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR THESE MEETINGS. UM, SO WITH THAT, UH, THE COMMISSION IS WELCOME TO OPEN UP ANY CONVERSATION THEY'D LIKE TO HAVE, UM, REGARDING CHAIR OR VICE CHAIR. THERE'S NO, UH, PREFERENCE AS TO ORDER. SO, UM, KIND OF WHICHEVER WAY YOU TACKLE IT HISTORICALLY, WE'VE USUALLY SEEN CHAIR FIRST AND VICE CHAIR FOLLOWING. UM, BUT I WILL OPEN IT UP TO YOU, CHAIRMAN AND THE COMMISSION FOR ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY NOMINATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR THOSE ROLES. CODY, DO WE TAKE A, A SEPARATE VOTE ON EACH OF THOSE? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. THERE WILL BE A SEPARATE VOTE FOR EACH, UH, EACH ROLE THERE AS AN OFFICER. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ELECT COMMISSIONER MOOD TO STAY IN THE HOT SEAT. OKAY. I SECOND THAT MOTION IF HE'S WILLING. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PUNISHED NEAR LONG ENOUGH. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE TO VICE CHAIR. OKAY. I CAN, I NOMINATE ABSOLUTELY. ANYONE'S ALLOWED TO NOMINATE CHAIRMAN. AS FAR AS THE COMMISSION, I NOMINATE VICE CHAIR SMITH. I'LL SECOND THAT. I ACCEPT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AYE. HEARING NONE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO [8. COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS AND/OR DIRECTIONS TO STAFF: Commissioners may use this time to offer additional comments regarding any item on this agenda, or any other topic; and the Commission may direct staff to study or provide additional information on topics of the Commissions’ choosing.] ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. CODY, THIS IS YOU COMMISSIONERS, COMMENTS AND OR DIRECTIONS TO STAFF? I GUESS THAT'S US TO YOU HON. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CODY? NO QUESTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT. YEP. SINCE THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING THIS YEAR, I WILL WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND, UH, GOOD. AND PROCESS, UH, 2026. THANK YOU, JACK. THANK YOU. UH, I HAVE A QUESTION. ARE THERE, SO THE SEATS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FILLED HERE ARE BECAUSE OF THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY DISTRICT, RIGHT? THE DISTRICTS, CORRECT. RIGHT. SO WHERE'S JOE CITY'S WHO'S IN FOR CITY'S DISTRICT? LIKE WHAT DISTRICT ARE THEY IN? I BELIEVE THAT IS, IF YOU COULD PULL IT UP REALLY QUICKLY, TYLER, I BELIEVE THAT'S DISTRICT TWO. IT'S OVERSEEN BY SUPERVISOR ALBERTO PEKAY. DO THEY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON HERE? IS THAT, UH, IS UH, COMMISSIONER MURPH? IS HE NO, HE'S CLOSE TO HOLBROOK. HOLBROOK. I THINK COMMISSIONER MURPH MAY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN REDISTRICTED INTO DISTRICT TWO THERE. UM, BECAUSE THERE WAS A, A SLIGHT ALTERATION. THEY, THEY MOVE THE, THE DISTRICTING BOUNDARIES. OKAY. BUT IF TYLER CAN PULL IT UP REAL QUICK, WE'LL CONFIRM. I TRY TO DO MY BEST, BUT SOME OF THE BOUNDARIES GET VERY HAIRY WITHIN THE CITIES. WINSLOW IS SPLIT BY TWO. OH REALLY? HOLBROOK IS SPLIT BY TWO. HEBREW OVER GUARD IS NOW SPLIT BY TWO AND IT USED TO BE ONE. SO WHAT DO YOU MEAN SPLIT BY TWO? UH, TWO DISTRICTS. DIFFERENT PORTIONS FALL WITHIN IT. THEY GO BASED ON POPULATION THRESHOLDS. LOOKS LIKE IT FALLS WITHIN DISTRICT NUMBER THREE. ACTUALLY DISTRICT NUMBER THREE FOR JOSEPH CITY? YEAH. OKAY. WELL IF THAT'S DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, THEN THAT WOULD BE JASON WHITING. AND WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM DISTRICT THREE. YOU ARE ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE. NOW, COMMISSIONER ROGERS, AND I'M STRUGGLING IF WE HAVE A SECOND. IS IT JUST THE ONE IN DISTRICT THREE CURRENTLY? IS SNOWFLAKE SPLIT? UH, NO, IT'S SNOWFLAKE'S ALL DISTRICT THREE. SNOWFLAKE IS ALL WITHIN DISTRICT THREE. OKAY. WELL THAT WAS JUST MY QUESTION. I KINDA WANTED TO KNOW LIKE, LIKE THIS ONE'S REALLY A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO JOE CITY, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S CLOSER TO THEIR HEART THAN SAY, SNOWFLAKE OR HEBERT OR LAKESIDE, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THAT'S WHAT'S, WE NEED MORE COMMISSIONERS, DON'T WE? OH YEAH. AND SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE, CALL IT CONSTANTLY. OH, OKAY. CHAIRMAN MOOD. YOU ARE THE OTHER ONE TOO. WELL, I FIGURED IF LOGAN IS, I PROBABLY AM TOO. SO I, IF, IF YOU'RE HEARING, HEARING IT OR READING THE MINUTES FROM JOE CITY, YOU KNOW, COME BEYOND THE COMMISSION SO YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR LAND ESSENTIALLY. YOU KNOW, MR. CHAIRMAN, [00:30:01] UH, EARLIER TONIGHT IT WAS MENTIONED THAT WE ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. WE ARE NOT ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, WHEREAS WE'RE APPOINTED BY THAT DISTRICT SUPERVISOR. YES. GOOD. THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU. SO IF YOU WANT THAT JOB, TALK TO YOUR SUPERVISOR. OH, IT'S A SHOE IN. YEAH. , NO QUESTIONS ASKED. OKAY. ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CODY OR, OR ANY OF THE STAFF? KATE CODY, DO YOU HAVE, [9. REPORT FROM STAFF TO THE COMMISSION:] UH, NUMBER NINE? WE'LL GO TO A REPORT TO FROM STAFF TO THE COMMISSION. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. UH, JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIR FOR BEING WILLING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN YOUR ROLE AS OFFICERS HERE FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE IN THE ROOM, AS WELL AS THOSE ONLINE FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE IN THIS VOLUNTEER ROLE. UH, WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANY ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR THE JANUARY COMMISSION MEETING. UH, WE WILL UPDATE YOU IF THAT CHANGES. WE DO HAVE ITEMS UNDER REVIEW. THEY'RE JUST NOT TECHNICALLY READY TO MOVE FORWARD. THEY NEED TO PROVIDE SOME FURTHER DOCUMENTATION. UH, WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. WE'RE, UH, I'LL SMACK IT. WE'RE ADJOURNED. PERFECT. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.