Allen County commissioners have a short window to give input on an electric transmission line project that will cut through dozens of properties.
Terry Call, zoning director, told commissioners they could submit a recommendation to the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) about preferred “setbacks” — the distance between the transmission poles from structures such as houses or barns.
At issue is a project that would build a 94-mile transmission line from a substation near the Wolf Creek power plant to the Blackberry Substation in Missouri. About 58 landowners in Allen County would be affected by the line, which will be constructed by NextEra Energy.
At a hearing earlier this month in Iola, KCC board members heard from about 20 affected property owners and others who are concerned about the line’s proximity to homes and farm buildings.
Many spoke about the difficulty in conducting farm activities such as aerial spraying or planting around poles. Others were concerned about potential health impacts, though studies have not found conclusive evidence of harm caused by electromagnetic fields (EMF).
KCC will consider whether to approve NextEra’s chosen route, factoring information submitted during a public hearing process.
Allen County commissioners have until the end of this month to submit any recommendation for setbacks, Call told them. Commission Chairman David Lee said he would like to know what other counties were considering. Commissioners Jerry Daniels and Bruce Symes said they would like to talk to affected property owners to see what distance they prefer.
Call said the setback for wind turbines is twice the height, which equates to a setback roughly 1,000 feet between the turbine and structures or the road right-of-way.
The planned transmission poles are not nearly as tall as wind turbines. They are single poles made of concrete and will be about 125 feet tall, so double that would be 250 feet.
NextEra representatives said most of the poles will be situated 500 feet or more from structures, but in a few cases, they’ll be just 200 feet away.
“Let’s see what other counties are proposing. We can also reach out to some of those who this is going to affect and see what their recommendations are, within reason,” Lee suggested. “I think everyone knows this is going to happen, so how can we all get along?”
Insurance discussion
Commissioners on Tuesday delved into t insurance matters.
First, they heard a health insurance presentation from Don Doherty, who represents Northwestern Mutual and RPS Benefits By Design. Doherty, who works with McIntosh/Booth Insurance, asked commissioners for approval to study the county’s insurance programs to see if he could build a better proposal.
Commissioners gave their blessing, the same as they have to a similar proposal from another insurance representative. The county agreed to continue with its current Blue Cross Blue Shield plan under insurance broker Bukaty Companies for the coming year, but indicated they might be open to other proposals next year. Commissioners were disappointed the county’s health claims were fewer this year but their rates still increased because the insurance pool as a whole did not have a good year.
They also heard an update on other types of insurance from Loren Korte with PSI insurance agency.
