County could see large transmission line

LEE COUNTY – A Cedar Rapids energy company is proposing to build a 345 KV transmission line through Lee County.
A letter going out to landowners was received by Lee County from ITC Midwest, LLC on March 27th and a public hearing has been set for May 6 at 12:30 p.m. at the Quality Inn & Suites in Fort Madison.
Details of the project will be presented at the meeting along with a summary of the legal rights of affected landowners. Time will also be allocated to answer questions about the project.
The Petitioner’s initial proposed route starts at ITC Midwest Deeds Substation located northwest of Denmark just west of the Old Quarry Road and 115th Street intersection, where it would join an existing 161kV transmission line and travel east as a double circuit 345kV/161kV line for approximately 0.20 miles. The proposed line then travels southeast for approximately 4.50 miles before turning east for approximately 1.75 miles and leaving the existing 161kV transmission line, heading southeast as a single circuit 345kV line for approximately 1.80 miles. The proposed line then travels south just west of Indian Path Park for approximately 0.50 miles and joins an existing 161kV transmission line and travels southwest adjacent to the railroad right of way, again as a double circuit 345kV/161kV line, for approximately 5.80 miles. The proposed line then travels south for approximately 0.60 miles ending at a point on the east corporate limit line of Ft. Madison, Iowa.
The proposed line in total is approximately 15.15 miles. The final route may change and will be determined when easement negotiations with landowners are complete, and the Iowa Utilities Commission has approved the project.
Prior to construction of this transmission line, the Petitioner must request a franchise from the Iowa Utilities Commission (Utilities Commission) authorizing the construction, operation, and maintenance of the transmission line along the proposed route.
After the Utilities Commission has reviewed the petition for franchise, it may conduct a public hearing and landowners would have a right to participate in the hearing process. If a hearing is conducted, notice of the public hearing will be published in Lee County newspapers with county-wide circulation. There is the possibility that right-of-way may be acquired by condemnation if approved by the Utilities Commission.
At this time, the ITC has not requested and does not have the right of eminent domain in order to acquire the property rights by condemnation.
If the Petitioner requests the right of eminent domain, a notice of the public hearing will be sent to the owners of record and parties in possession of the parcels subject to the request for eminent domain by return receipt mail in addition to the notice being published in a Lee County newspaper with county-wide circulation.