A 134-acre commercial solar energy site is one step closer to occupying space of a now-closed landfill in southwest Bloomington.
On Thursday, the McLean County Board unanimously approved a slightly amended version of the county zoning board’s recommendation to allow Chicago-based SunVest Solar special use of the site.
SunVest’s plan calls for a solar energy generating site, as well as a battery energy storage system [BESS], at 2105 W. Oakland Avenue in Bloomington Township, and the area immediately east of Oakland Avenue, about a third of a mile north of Six Points Road.
The recommendation includes an amendment requiring SunVest show documentation that its project’s fire safety equipment and fire response planning are compliant with the recently updated International Fire Code, and demonstrate the project’s equipment and planning comply with the International Building Code.
Land Use Committee Chair Lea Cline told the board several committee members wanted more assurances that fire safety would be adequate, given the proposed special-use site's proximity to the city of Bloomington.
Last month, the board OK'd the county's first BESS facility, an Invenergy project going up in a rural area outside of Chenoa.
Cline noted as proposed the SunVest site is not as rural as the Invenergy site.
"That puts it in a far more densely populated area and one near significant infrastructure," said Cline. Committee members had concerns because the Invenergy plan for fire prevention and suppression differed vastly from the one proposed by SunVest.
District 8’s Eric Hansen was absent Thursday.
Bessler seated as District 4 representative
Also during the meeting, the board seated William Bessler, a Democrat, to complete the term of Democrat Krystle Able, who resigned after saying she’d be moving out of District 4.
Including Bessler, 17 candidates filed before the November deadline to run in the March 17 primary. There are 10 contested county board races on the ballot, one in each district. However, there will be no primaries for any county races next March, according to records posted online by the McLean County Clerk’s office.
Board allocates funds for road and bridge projects
The board OK’d the Land Use and Transportation Committee’s recommendation to use Motor Fuel Tax and Bridge Funds for two upcoming road projects. About $2.6 million will go toward rebuilding an east-west roadway in Hudson Township, and about $600,000 for related drainage improvements.
The total estimated cost for the 2026 Hudson West Road project [McLean County Highway 12] is about $5 million, according to board materials. This involves reconstructing the road with asphalt, replacing culverts, and widening shoulders.
The two miles of work will be just west of Hudson, heading east from Ropp Road [1200 East Road] to Sweeney Lane, close to Interstate 39.
Separately, the board approved the committee’s recommendation to use the funds for a $625,000 project to resurface a mile of a LeRoy street — West Street [County Highway 21] and School Street [County Highway 40]. The project includes adding sidewalk ramps. The stretch last was resurfaced 20 years ago.
The board also hired two firms for engineering services to plan 2028 projects to replace two 50-year-old bridges.
In other business, the board
- Heard from health committee chair Corey Beirne regarding the county’s policy on retailers selling CBD/THC-infused drinks. He said the products no longer are embargoed, and are available for sale. At the board’s executive meeting on Monday, a Bloomington retailer raised concerns over unclear policies on the drinks. Beirne said the county’s health department is “working to get additional guidance from state and federal health and food agencies to clarify those policies” regarding those products.
- OK’d allocating $110,000 each to Project Oz and Chestnut Health Systems for the 2026 year. The money comes from the county’s national opioid settlement funds.
