Clark County Approves Low Bids for Moonshine Solar Road Materials

Clark County Board Meeting | March 20, 2026

Article Summary: The Clark County Board voted unanimously March 20 to accept the low bids for materials on the Moonshine Solar Road Project, work that County Engineer Dallas Richardson told the board involves approximately $4 million in road improvements in that area. The county will purchase the materials and be reimbursed through Johnson Township.

Moonshine Solar Road Project Key Points:

• The board accepted the low bids for road materials on a unanimous roll call; six of seven members were present.
• Richardson said the project area carries roughly $4 million in road improvements, and that box culverts, metal culverts, oil and other materials had to be bid out.
• Under the arrangement Richardson described, the county buys the materials, EDP pays the township, and Johnson Township reimburses the county.
• A construction kickoff was announced for April 2 at Richard’s Farm.

CLARK COUNTY — The Clark County Board on Friday, March 20, 2026, unanimously approved a resolution accepting the low bids for materials on the Moonshine Solar Road Project, clearing the county to purchase culverts, oil and other supplies for roadwork tied to a solar development in the eastern part of the county.

The motion was made by Board Member Todd Kuhn and seconded by Board Member Susan Guinnip. The chairman put the question, and all members present voted “aye.” Board Member Brandon Burkybile, District #2, was recorded absent; the board’s six other members were present.

The resolution followed a report from the county engineer during the meeting’s highway discussion. Richardson — referred to in the minutes’ highway items as the highway engineer — told the board that the Moonshine/EDP Solar Farm carries approximately $4,000,000 in road improvements for that area. To obtain the box culverts, metal culverts, oil and other materials required, he said, the work had to be bid out, and he asked the board for authority to accept the low bid for materials.

Richardson described the payment chain this way, according to the minutes: the county will purchase the materials, EDP will pay the township, and Johnson Township will then reimburse the county.

Kickoff Set for April 2

The project also drew attention earlier in the meeting, during public comments. Jesse Eick, appearing on behalf of the Moonshine Solar Project, told the board a construction kickoff for the project would be held April 2 at Richard’s Farm, with several representatives on hand to answer questions and address concerns. The attendance record for the meeting lists three people under Moonshine Solar — Eick, Chuck Ayres and Eric Hoffman.

Eick also raised the question of planting grasses at the site to prevent weed growth and erosion. Richardson asked where the seeding would take place, and Eick said it would be in the fields. Richardson said he believed the work would require a building permit but wanted to confirm that with Andrew Keyt, the county’s attorney for solar and wind, before granting permission.

That deferral placed the seeding question alongside the board’s other unfinished solar business. On the same agenda, the board tabled both an amended solar ordinance and an amended wind ordinance, and Chairman Rex Goble told a union representative during public comments that Keyt is working on the updated ordinances. (See separate coverage of the tabled ordinances.)

The Moonshine road resolution was one of two highway resolutions the board adopted March 20. The other authorized a certificate of authority to purchase road salt under the State of Illinois bid program.

What the Record Does Not Say

The minutes are the only source available for this meeting, and they do not record several details a reader would reasonably want. They do not name the low bidder or bidders, state the amount of the accepted bids, or identify which roads or structures the materials will go to. They do not say whether the approximately $4 million figure represents the total value of improvements in the area, the county’s share, or the developer’s obligation. They do not state the terms of the reimbursement arrangement among the county, EDP and Johnson Township, whether that arrangement is memorialized in a written agreement, or when construction on the county’s portion is expected to begin or finish. The resolution itself is not numbered in the minutes.

The bid tabulation and the underlying resolution, both of which would resolve most of these questions, were not included in the materials provided.