Tom Gustafson spoke to the club on June 12. He lives on some property that the windmill group needed an easement they paid for to get to some of the towers along with the "wind" on their property ($20 per acre per year for 20 years). He began as an interested observer 12 years years ago when the first meeting was held for property owners regarding the project. This project near Allen and Wakefield/Emerson has been a financial benefit for not only the landowners who receive annual rent money but ongoing taxes which could amount to as much as $1 Million dollars per year. They repaired roads that many heavy loads were hauled over (some equipment weighed up to 260,000 lbs.) and were transported on 12 axle trailers and pulled/pushed by two 1000 HP truck/tractors. They had their own cement plants to help build bases using 240 yds. of cement plus large rebar. The windmills require only 6-7 mph wind to operate. Tom said the contractor was very good to work with and did everything they said they would. It has changed the landscape which some people like and others don't.
(Pictured l to r: Club President Gary Weddel, Tom Gustafson, Jack Imdieke