Hilltopper Wind Farm: 16 towers up, some nighttime tower construction to begin

 

[September 18, 2018] 

LINCOLN 

At the Logan County Board Workshop this past Thursday evening, one focus of discussion was the Hilltopper Wind Farm Project in Mount Pulaski.

Logan County Highway Engineer Bret Aukamp provided updates on the progress of the construction processes. He said Hilltopper night work has begun. They are starting to erect towers and need to move forward quickly with setting the tower sections in the evenings.

Aukamp said the night work was approved by the conditional use permit the board approved. They can set towers, Nacelles, and rotors during nighttime hours.

Aukamp said they are not supposed to be doing any road work or other construction at night, they are just setting the components. He cleared it up with Hilltopper that nighttime work should not include moving cranes from place to place.

Aukamp said sixteen towers are fully assembled and several others partially assembled. Most road work is partially completed, so it should be a lot safer to drive on.

Aukamp said the construction inspection for the road improvement by Cummins Engineering has taken a lot longer than anyone had planned. Cummins Engineering has had a do a lot more survey work, staking, and inspection than what was originally expected.

He said the county needs to extend the agreement so that Cummins can get paid for the work that still needs to be done. The agreement for $128,877.90 is to carry them through the rest of this year and for the work next year that would need to get done.

Since Cummins gets paid directly by Hilltopper, the amount never has to enter or exit the county’s books, but technically the agreement has to be with the county.

Road and Bridge Committee Chairman Bob Farmer said that on Tuesday he would motion for an amendment to the construction agreement with Cummins Engineering. The amendment is for an additional $128,877.90 to cover 'additional time spent.' Farmer said the entire amount would be paid by Hilltopper.

As county engineer, Aukamp continues to deal with both major and minor issues related to the project, but he said he will keep the board informed as much as possible.

The board will vote on the agreement at Tuesday’s Regular Board meeting.

[Angela Reiners]