The Oakland town board approved a resolution opposing the proposed transmission line routes at its September meeting, joining other municipalities in Jefferson County that have passed similar resolutions this summer.
The proposed 190-mile 765-kV BECI transmission line would go through much of southern Wisconsin, connecting three electric facilities, and has met opposition from many area residents.
The routes are currently in the public input process, and will go before the Public Service Commission for review next year. The review process will likely take between 12 to 18 months.
Town Board Chair Laura Payne said the town will not get to vote on the line, but can submit public comments.
“We are not involved in this process at all; we do not have a say,” Payne said.
Still, the town board voted unanimously to approve the resolution that detailed the town’s opposition to the line.
The resolution said the line would reduce property values, limit use of private property, fragment farmland, interfere with farming processes and reduce the value of agricultural land in the town. The resolution continued that the line could harm natural resources, wetlands and wildlife, and emphasized the negative impact on the Lake District’s preservation work in the town.
The resolution concluded that the town “unequivocally opposes” the construction of the line through the Town of Oakland, and encouraged the developer, Midcontinent Grid Solutions, to select a route that minimizes impacts on rural areas.
Town Clerk Wendy Tanguay said the resolution will go to Midcontinent Grid Solutions, the PSC, the governor, and state and local officials.
The Lake Mills town board and the Waterloo city council recently passed similar resolutions to make a statement to the communities and the PSC on the municipality’s stance. The towns of Deerfield and Christiana also had similar resolutions on recent agendas.
Ahead of the board passing the resolution, several residents spoke during public comment.
Melisssa Grimmer said she was “very disappointed” the board hadn’t yet taken action.
“But we still need to act,” Grimmer said. “We need to ensure that our township is showing support for the residents here and fully opposing these transmission lines.”
And Lynn Klipstine argued the land is being “exploited” and the board needs to take action.
“Our land is sacred, and we’re just giving it away for progress,” Klipstine.
Other discussion
Also at the meeting, the board decided to table a decision on a new group to record meetings.
Resident Sheila Palinkas offered ideas for recording options she had researched, and Tanguay said she had reviewed a few quotes.
Tanguay said she was considering the most affordable options that also had the best video and audio quality. Tanguay recommended tabling the decision until the town had more information. She also said Palinkas could give a presentation at the next meeting on her ideas.
The town board voted in August to leave the Cambridge Cable Commission who previously recorded the town meetings.
Board members decided the town was losing too much money, and Payne said the town could find more cost effective ways to record its meetings.