ST9302-CS 950120 January 20, 1995
1. Representatives of the City Council and City Staff meet with members of the staff of the
Public Utilities Commission to express the City's opposition to TU's plan to upgrade the
existing transmission line on Sandy Lake Road. Present at the meeting were: Harold
Hughes, Jr., the Director of the Electrical Division, Gordon H. Van Sickle, Utility
Specialist, Electrical Division, Ed Ethridge, Electrical Production Engineer, Keith Rogas,
Assistant General Counsel to the PUC and a representative of the Consumer Affairs
Division of the PUC. Special Council, who will be formally engaged at City Council
meeting Tuesday, was also present and will assist the City in formally opposing TU's
efforts to upgrade or relocate their transmission line.
2. Following the meeting with the PUC Staff, the representatives of the City Council and
City Staff met with the Executive Assistant for the PUC Chairman, Robert Gee, and
provided him with a detailed report expressing the concerns of the City and it's Citizens
of not being afforded the opportunity to publicly oppose TU's efforts to upgrade the
transmission line. At that meeting the Mayor presented over 200 letters from concerned
citizens voicing their opposition to the upgrade or relocation of the TU power lines.
3. As a result of the meetings, the City has learned ofvarious options to oppose TU's effort
to upgrade or relocate the transmission line.
* One course of action, which the City will explore, is the filing of a formal
complaint with the PUC challenging the necessity for the upgrade of the
transmission line. Through that process, we will seek a regional hearing for
public input. The time period for the formal complaint process is uncertain;
however, it may bring the issue to a head.
* Another course of action, which the City will implement, is to have the Special
Counsel monitor TU's efforts to upgrade the transmission line and submit formal
opposition if and when TU files an application for the upgrade.
4. While the City will continue with its discussions with TIJ to find a solution to the
problem, the City will explore other options and will formulate specific strategy after
receiving a formal report from the Special Counsel.
5. We are encouraged by the dialogue that has taken place, but want to remind citizens that
this could be an arduous and expensive process. In the meantime, any decision
concerning the Sandy Lake Road expansion will not be made until after a report from the
Special Counsel.