Kossuth County supervisors tabled a decision on extending the county’s solar ordinance moratorium and directed staff to convene the Planning & Zoning Commission for a recommendation before final board action.

Speaker 5 explained staff had begun conversations about an extension because earlier timelines made it unlikely the full solar ordinance could be adopted before the moratorium’s expiration. Maria, who joined the meeting by phone and offered procedural guidance, told the board that moratoria affecting zoning typically require an ordinance and a P&Z recommendation unless the original ordinance expressly allowed extension without returning to P&Z.

Board members reviewed the record for the prior moratorium (referenced in the meeting as Kossuth County Ordinance 03/20, adopted Oct. 1, 2024) to determine whether an extension could proceed directly with the board. The discussion clarified that, absent explicit language allowing the board to extend without P&Z, the safer process is for P&Z to meet and provide a recommendation. The board asked staff to assemble P&Z before next Tuesday and to present a proposed ordinance or resolution for the board’s next meeting.

The board voted to table the moratorium item until next week, pending P&Z recommendation and staff-prepared draft language. No extension was approved today.