Marathon County Regular Meeting - 8/25/26

The Marathon County Board held a regular meeting on August 25, 2026, primarily discussing the county's engagement with Alliant Energy regarding the Hub City Wind Project. The board debated a resolution that was initially non-committal, leading to confusion about what action, if any, was being approved. Several supervisors expressed concerns about the lack of a clear directive and the procedural appropriateness of the resolution. An amendment was proposed to direct the county administrator to request a contractual agreement from Alliant Energy addressing local concerns, but this was not formally introduced. Ultimately, the board voted to refer the matter back to the executive committee for further review and to develop a clear recommendation for the full board. Legal counsel clarified that while the county could impose a moratorium, the Public Service Commission (PSC) would not consider it in their review of the project, limiting local regulatory influence. The discussion highlighted constituent concerns about the project's scale, setbacks, and public safety, with many supervisors emphasizing the need for thorough evaluation before proceeding. No contract awards or purchasing decisions were made during this meeting.