# October 8, 2026 Shelby County Board Meeting


**Body:** Shelby County, Illinois
**Date:** October 07, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Energy & Utilities, Construction & Infrastructure, Physical Infrastructure


At the October 8, 2026 Shelby County Board meeting, the board discussed a proposed wind-energy project and related safeguards, while residents raised concerns about property values, wildlife, tourism, roads, and local control. The developer described two possible project configurations—207 MW with 46 turbines or 212 MW with 53 turbines—and announced an upcoming public open house. No formal project application had been submitted, and the board did not approve the wind project. The board discussed a pre-road-use engineering agreement and amended the proposed professional-fee terms to require the developer to pay all county costs, increase the security deposit to $100,000, and reduce the period to dispute charges to five business days. The amendment passed, but the revised agreement was to be returned for further review rather than receiving final approval. The board also discussed hiring engineering support to protect county roads and bridges if construction proceeds, and raised whether separate engineering review should be arranged for zoning permits.

The board approved the highway department’s new tandem-axle dump-truck purchase; officials said the county intended to fund it through work and other revenues rather than local tax dollars, but no purchase price was stated in the transcript. The board also voted unanimously on the FY2027 proposed budget, which showed projected revenue of $21,889,378, proposed spending of $20,742,423, and a surplus of about $1.15 million; further adjustments and the county levy were expected to be considered later. A proposed appointment to the Finley Fire Protection District was tabled. The meeting also included discussion of state restrictions on county authority over wind and solar projects and the need for residents to provide economic, environmental, and other information to inform future decisions.

**Source:** Shelby County, Illinois