Feb 9 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - David Rupkalvis The Graham Leader, Texas


Young County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to oppose a proposed transmission power line near the city of Graham.

Commissioners said they were not opposed to the line itself but did not want to see the line built near Graham, where the impact on current and potential residential property is greatest.

"It looks to me like good common sense would take that line north of Graham lake," Precinct 2 Commissioner John C. Bullock said. "It's better topography."

A line well north of Graham seemed to be the most popular option for several residents who spoke on the topic.

 All the residents said they were opposed to two of three proposals presented by Oncor Electric. The two lines the residents were opposed to were shown running just north and just south of Graham. The third proposal had a line running in the far southern part of the county.

"Graham is a growing community, and I expect Graham to expand," said Eugene McCracken. "Either one of these power lines is going to limit the expansion of Graham. If you limit the expansion of Graham, you'll be limiting Young County. I know I have some land in the future I'd like to develop. I know others have land they'd like to develop. I'd ask commissioners to help the residents of Graham and Young County by adopting a resolution that opposes lines ZZ and AAA."

In the Oncor map, line ZZ runs just north of the city limits while line AAA runs just south.

Win Graham told commissioners the lines that close to the city would do more than just hurt property value.

"This place is a pretty special place," Graham said. "One of the things that distinguishes us from other communities of the same size is the beauty of our community. Power lines to the north or south would not only limit expansion but would decrease the beauty of our community. I would ask that you oppose ZZ and AAA."

Dr. Lynn Nesbitt said his opposition was more personal. He said one of the proposed lines would run right over his property.

"The visual pollution is unusually severe in my mind," Nesbitt said. "The courses of the river are not polluted by anything close to this. Our property would be better served by having this line moved to the north. The southern part of that property is pristine to a degree. The two homes would be so close to that line that all you could see would be the tops of the lines and the towers."

Nesbitt said if the towers were built across his property, he would probably see the value drop by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Randy Stephens told commissioners he has already sent information to Oncor showing why moving the lines north would be beneficial.

"I've proposed a more northern route in Young County," he said. "A new line to the north in primarily uninhabited areas would open up the land and might get us some wind farms in the future."

Kent Pettus told commissioners he understood the need for the line but said putting it right next to Graham was not a good idea.

"It's that not-in-my-backyard syndrome," Pettus said. "I understand that. The AAA is more offensive to me than any others. If they've already blighted one area, continue to blight that area. It sounds to me like the northern part of the county might be superior."

County Judge Stan Peavy III said his discussions with Oncor gave him the impression the northern part of Young County might one day have a transmission line, just not the proposed Willow Creek line.

"I've talked with Oncor about that, and they say the northern part of the county would be part of a separate study," Peavy said. "So moving north is a good idea, but I don't think it's in the cards."

Peavy explained the purpose of the line is to move power from wind farms to the Willow Creek substation near Jacksboro. The easiest and most cost effective way to do that is to move in a straight line.

"Instead of going through Graham, if they just move it a couple of miles north, it would be an improvement," Precinct 1 Commissioner John Hawkins said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a joint resolution with the city of Graham opposing lines AAA and ZZ.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to move $23,530 from contingency to help Olney Hamilton Hospital pay for a new ambulance.

Representatives of the hospital approached the county last year and asked that the remaining funds in the Olney ambulance line at the end of the fiscal year be retained to help pay for the ambulance.

Commissioners agreed, telling hospital representatives to come back after the ambulance was received.

The money agreed to Monday will pay a share of the cost of the ambulance and will also purchase a new lift for the ambulance.

Hamilton Hospital representatives also asked the county to consider finding money to help purchase five new defibrillators. The five defibrillators would be paid for primarily with grant funding with the county, Hamilton Hospital and Hamilton Hospital Foundation sharing the remaining cost. The county will discuss the defibrillators Feb. 22.

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