# Stephenson County IL Planning & Development Committee Meeting 11-2-26

The Stephenson County Board Planning & Development Committee met on November 2, 2026. Members approved the corrected agenda and October 5 minutes, then approved $903.85 in claims. No contract awards, bids, vendor selections, or county purchasing decisions were identified. The economic development update reported that cheese manufacturer Sabencia Colbolina completed a roughly 5,000-square-foot first-phase addition, is hiring 37 workers through the first quarter of 2027, and is considering a later expansion requiring an estimated $7 million investment in waste-treatment improvements, subject to applicable EPA standards. These are private-sector plans, not county procurement actions.

Planning staff reported October deposits of $8,018.20 and noted ongoing site-compliance inspections, solar and energy-storage development, and interest from a company exploring smaller energy-storage sites. Discussion focused on whether current setbacks—50 feet from a property line and 150 feet from a structure—are adequate near homes; staff said fire-suppression requirements are included in county code, which was recently updated to reflect state regulations. Other updates covered workforce shortages, housing needs, local recruitment events, and a proposed campground expansion. No additional spending or procurement actions were recorded.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** November 02, 2026

### Sources
- [Stephenson County IL Planning & Development Committee Meeting 11-2-26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLargFOa94M) - Stephenson County Board