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Support Local Control in
Your County!

thank you Bayfield County WI
for leading the way...

Resolution Supporting Local Control For Wisconsin Counties

WHEREAS, local governments in Wisconsin are closest to the people they serve and are best positioned to understand and address the unique needs, priorities, and challenges of their communities; and,

WHEREAS, local control allows for innovation, flexibility, and responsiveness in governance, enabling local governments to tailor solutions that best fit their residents; and,

WHEREAS, public meeting and hearings held by local units of government allow for significantly more opportunity for public input than meeting and hearings held by the Legislature in Madison; and,

WHEREAS, preserving local control is essential to maintaining accountability, transparency, and public trust in government, as well as ensuring that decisions reflect local values and conditions; and,

WHEREAS, Statewide, one size fits all regulations, do not always appropriately address the issues and needs of every Wisconsin community; and,

WHEREAS, a series of mandates and other legislative actions have continuously shifted powers from the local to the state level; and,

WHEREAS, a May 1st, 2018 memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau listed over 100 state legislative changes that decreased local control in Wisconsin between 2011 and 2018; and,

WHEREAS, the geographic, environmental, and demographic diversity across Wisconsin counties necessitates localized approaches to governance that reflect each county's unique characteristics; and,

WHEREAS, county boards are democratically elected bodies that directly represent the interests and values of their constituents;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors hereby request that Wisconsin Counties Association urge the Wisconsin State Legislature and Governor to oppose any legislation that would restrict counties' authority to make decisions in the best interest of their communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors hereby request that Wisconsin Counties Association maintain a database with all legislation, including bill numbers and sponsor/co-sponsor information, that seek to limit local control; and

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors assembled this 27th day of May, 2025, hereby requests that the Wisconsin Counties Association work to support all efforts to protect Wisconsin Counties’ local control.

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SAMPLE ORDINANCE FOR 
AN ANAEROBIC DIGESTER
Simpson County, Kentucky 

ORDINANCE NO. 440-60

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AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE LOCATION, ESTABLISHMENT, 

CREATION, AND OPERATION OF ANAEROBI DIGESTION FACILITIES IN SIMPSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY

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WHEREAS, the Fiscal Court desires to protect the health, safety and welfare of the

residents of Simpson County, Kentucky; and 

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WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the Fiscal Court that there is the possibility of the location, establishment, creation, and operation of Anaerobic Digestion facilities that convert waste to energy in Simpson County; and

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WHEREAS, the Fiscal Court finds that such facilities may pose risks related to odor, air and water contamination, traffic congestion, and an overall negative community impact; and

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WHEREAS, the Franklin-Simpson Planning and Zoning Committee discussed this matter extensively in its meeting on March 18, 2025 and recommended the Fiscal Court Prohibit the location, establishment, creation, and operation of Anaerobic Digestion facilities in Simpson County; and 

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WHEREAS, at its April 1, 2025 meeting the Fiscal Court voted unanimously to adopt the recommendations of the Franklin-Simpson Planning & Zoning Commission recommendations with one deviation; and 

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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the County of Simpson Kentucky, acting by and through its Fiscal Court as follows:

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Section 1: DEFINITIONS

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1. Anaerobic Digestion - uses microorganisms to break down organic waste and produce "biogas" that can be used to generate                electricity or heat, with leftover digestate converted into fertilizers. 

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2. Anaerobic Digestion Facility - any facility that processes organic material through anaerobic digestion to produce and convert waste      to energy, biogas, digestate, or other by products.

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3. Gasification - converts solid waste into gas that can be used to generate electricity or heat with the resulting residue used as a              construction material.

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​4.  Plasma Gasification - uses high temperatures and plasma to generate fuel from solid waste with the residue also used as a                   construction material.

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5. Prohibited Activities - The construction, establishment, expansion, or operation of any Anaerobic Digestion facility for processing           organic waste, food waste, agricultural waste, or sewage sludge.

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6. Pyrolysis - is another process that uses high temperatures to generate fuels from solid waste that also generates a residue utilized       a construction material.

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7. Simpson County - The entirety of the unincorporated and incorporated areas within the county.

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SECTION 2: PROHIBITION

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1. The location, establishment, creation, permitting, and operation of Anaerobic Digestion facilities are expressly prohibited within              Simpson County.

 

2. No permits, licenses, or zoning approvals shall be issued for the development or operation of Anaerobic Digestion facilities.

 

3. Any existing Anaerobic Digestion facilities within Simpson County shall be required to cease operations within 180 days of the effective day of this ordinance.

 

SECTION 3: ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES

 

1.  Any person, business, or entity found to be in violation of this ordinance shall be subject to:

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  • A fine of up to $10,000 per day for each day of continued noncompliance.

  • Immediate revocation of any land use, business, or operating permits.

  • Legal action, including injunctive relief, to cease any prohibited activity.

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2. The Franklin-Simpson County Planning & Zoning and local law enforcement agencies shall have the authority to enfore this                    ordinance. 

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If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase, or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any Court of competent jurisdiction, such portion, shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provision, and such holdings shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of Ordinance.

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All ordinances or part of ordinances in conflict herewith, are to the extent of such conflict, hereby repealed.

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