CC 02-11-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mf.\!UTES FEBRUARY II, 2002 4 Mayor Probst stated he had hoped fi'om the last cncounter that Xcel would have recognized the sensitivity ofthe Arden Hills community to overhead lines. He notcd the line would be paid for by the residents of Arden Hills when the line services Shoreview. He added the line gocs underground when it goes into Shoreview. Mr. Wertish stated express feeder lines are a different sccnario. lIe noted Xce1 did not decide against overhead lines at Lexington. He added that position was adopted by thc Public Utility Commission. Mayor Probst stated Xcel is required to follow the requircments of the community it operates in. He noted the City has the legal right to control its right of way. Mr. Wertish stated the project was approved by the County. He noted Xcel has County pcrmits. He added Xcel's legal staffhas determined a city permit is not required. He statcd the County has jurisdiction. Hc notcd not that Xcel should not work with the City. \1r. Pan-ish stated he spoke to a County Specialist. He noted one component of the permit is to obtain any pCl1nits of thc municipality. He added Ramsey County docs not do any follow up on that point. \1r. Filla stated that since 1971 thc City of Arden Halls has bad regLllations to require underground utility lines. He noted most deal with new devclopment requiring the developcr to place lines underground. He added the utility rcgulations in 1971 talked about thc existing distribution lincs and thc proccss. He stated the City would need to get together with the energy company and discuss how the underground line was to be paid for. He noted nothing requircs the utility company automatically to pay for it. He added that since 1971 Minnesota courts have fOll1ld that cities have the authority to rcquire underground lines, but that utility companies have the right to be reimbursed for that cost. He stated one way is to rcquire a surcharge. He noted that in this case the City did not have the choice to decidc whether it wanted to underground the line and decide the costs. He added he thought Xcel should have gone through the City's permitting proccss. Hc stated the Public Utility Commission has takcn the position that the incremental cost be absorbed by the municipality, Councilmember Larson asked how Xcel decided to put part ofthc line underground. Mr. Wertish responded there is no other option in the right-of-way. He stated there is an existing overhead line. He noted there is not enough room to put the line in the right-a-way and keep Xccl's clcarance. He added sincc it is the only option the line must go underground at Xcel's cost. Councilmember Larson stated that is more expensive than running an underground linc in the Arscnal property where there is no dcvclopment. Mr. \Vertish agreed. Councilmember Larson stated he was told therc is a real need to atlticipate a significant load this summcr to provide redundancy so customers north of Arden Hills have reliable power. Mr. Wertish concuned.