The fate of a Christian school and 600 acres of farmland is still up in the air as commissioners rethink an ordinance defining the construction of solar farms in the county.

During the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners’ meeting on Wednesday, the public comment period saw Terra Ceia residents and many associated with Terra Ceia Christian School again ask commissioners to intervene on their behalf.

Those associated with the school believe that if a 600-acre solar farm is built on property right next to the school, enrollment would drop significantly, and potentially shut it down. Another stated concern is that the solar farm would cause a net overall loss of revenue for the county: if TCS closes, more than $600,000 in salaries will be gone; and money spent locally through agribusinesses to farm the 600 acres would represent at least another $300,000 loss, according to Bradley Van Staalduinen, who spoke during the public comment period. He compared that $900,000 loss to, at most, a $230,000 gain to the county from $80,000 in property tax revenue and a maximum of three employee salaries.

The Wilkinson Solar project is still under consideration by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, and Beaufort County commissioners declined last month to put a moratorium on the project as requested by school supporters and residents.

At the time, commissioners were operating under the assumption that “that ship had sailed” with regard to putting a hold or stop on the project.

However, earlier this year, when faced with a prospective 2,000-acre solar farm, Currituck County commissioners voted to ban future development of solar farms, largely due to residents’ concerns about the effect on property values, how they look and the fact that land traditionally used as farmland was being usurped by solar farms. The ban does not affect the two solar farms currently operating within the county.

For the proposed Terra Ceia solar farm, an outright ban may be unnecessary — there may be another out if parties cannot resolve their differences regarding setbacks, drainage and more.

Greenville-based Mario Perez is the property owner’s attorney. He believes representatives from Wilkinson Solar did not follow correct procedure in notarizing the lease on the land that was signed by Rhonda and Gertrude Respess.

“Mrs. Respess told me that when they signed it, the notary was not present. So, that’s pretty clear, and I don’t think that’s been denied,” Perez said.

The lease was notarized July 22, 2016, by a Lee County notary public named Sarah Kerns.

In North Carolina, it is a misdemeanor for a notary public to notarize a document without the signer of the document present. It’s a felony if the notary public notarizes a document with the intention to commit fraud.

Perez said that since her husband died last year, Respess has reconsidered leasing the land for a solar farm.

“She kind of went along with it and signed it,” Perez said. “He passed away in October, and then she began having second thoughts about it.”

He said there is concern about drainage issues that may occur in land prone to flooding, as well as who would be responsible for decommissioning the project when the decades-long lease runs out and what condition the land would be in then.

“Ultimately, this land is not being sold — it’s being leased, and, ultimately, the land goes to her two kids,” Perez said.

Perez said he and members of the Respess family, and another person who has a lease on the farm, are working to schedule a meeting with representatives from the solar company.

“I think I’m questioning the validity of the lease agreement, but at this point, until we all get together and sit down and meet, nothing’s been resolved,” Perez said.

Commissioners have instructed county Manager Brian Alligood to track down other counties’ solar farm ordinances to inform changes made to Beaufort County’s, if needed.