Several Day County landowners oppose BSSE transmission lines

by George Thompson, Reporter and Farmer

Day County Commissioners spent much of last week’s meeting dealing with 20 concerned landowners who don’t want BSSE transmission lines running through their property.

States attorney Dan Smeins explained the county does have some power to regulate where the lines go in relation to its roads, but doesn’t have broad enough authority to reroute the entire project.

He told the group it is up to each individual landowner to decide whether or not to sign an easement. He also noted the Public Utilities Commission can hear landowner concerns, but their only real authority is regulating utility rates.

The PUC can say yes or no to a rate increase which ultimately pays for a project, he said, but they can’t dictate where the transmission lines go.

This isn’t the first time the county commission has heard opposition to the proposed transmission line. Several townships have gone on record against the project. Most of the landowners feel the new lines will do little for Day County.