The Baldwin City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, where they approved a major fire engine repair and discussed a zoning change request from Fieldale Farms for a proposed solar farm.
Fire engine repair
Assistant Fire Chief Shaun Benfield presented the council with a request to repair a 30-year-old fire engine that recently suffered a motor failure. The repairs will cost a total of $28,965, which includes $18,965 for parts and $10,000 for labor. The aging fire truck is crucial to the city’s fire department operations, and Benfield explained that repairs would take a little over a month. Due to a delay in parts availability, the necessary components would take approximately a week to arrive, with another three weeks required to complete the motor rebuild.
The council unanimously approved the repair expense, which will be paid through the city’s Public Safety Fund.
Zoning change request for solar farm
The council also considered a zoning change request for a 12-acre parcel of land located at the corner of Duncan Bridge Road and Gainesville Highway. Fieldale Farms, represented by Alex Sullivan, is seeking approval to rezone the property from planned residential development to light industrial. The zoning change is necessary for the installation of a solar farm on five acres of the property.
The solar farm is the result of a partnership between Fieldale Farms and Georgia Power, which held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project in April 2024. According to Sullivan, the project has been in development for several years, and they are now ready to move forward with construction.
SEE ALSO: Georgia Power-Fieldale partner on solar farm in Baldwin
The proposed solar farm will feature a 1.06-megawatt fixed-tilt solar array. The electricity generated will be used by the Fieldale feed mill complex located across the street, reducing the mill’s reliance on traditional energy sources from the electric grid. Any excess energy produced will be credited back to the grid, providing the community with access to more affordable renewable energy.
The council approved the first reading of the zoning change request.
The next steps involve potential revisions to the request in the coming weeks, and the property will be posted this Friday to inform citizens of the proposed zoning change. A public hearing will be held prior to the second reading to allow residents to voice their opinions. After the hearing and second reading, the council may take final action on the request.
