CCP 10-13-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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---- DRAFT. " ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 4 indicated the area will be used for training and NSP would have to secure an easement to cross - the site. _.- Councilmember Keirn expressed her concern for there being a line on each side of Lexington Avenue. Councilmember Aplikowski asked ifNSP would be open to a compromise of installing the portion of line which runs along Highway 96 underground to connect with the other underground line. Mr. Wertish indicated this would be possible, but NSP would have to ask the City to pay the difference in cost, approximately $85,000. Councilmember Larson asked if there are any other substations north of the site. Mr. Johnson stated the Lexington substation is the last one going north. Councilmember Larson asked how power was provided when the current line was out of service. Mr. Johnson stated the power was put onto the other main feeder and small feeder taps which break down to other sources. This effort tripped out the main feeder at 600 Amps, the cable is only rated to 550 Amps. If the line had not worked, the entire area would have been out of service. NSP has tried to install another substation but the communities to the north will not allow it. Councilmember Larson asked why a line should be run through Arden Hills which feeds power to the communities north of Arden Hills who have said "no" to a substation. Mr. Johnson stated the power lines serve everybody and they all have to be tied together. The - State Statute allows utilities to be installed on road right-of-ways and, although the line doesn't serve much of Arden Hills, this is the only place available for it. Councilmember Larson asked, since the line was put in, has technology improved which would make underground lines a better option. Mr. Johnson stated the only improvement in underground technology has been the level of insulation which adds approximately five to ten years to the life of the line. This insulation does not protect the line from lightning. Councilmember Larson asked ifNSP moves forward with their plan, will the underground line be removed. Mr. Johnson stated the line would be left in place and abandoned. Councilmember Larson asked ifNSP has considered the future land uses for the eastern portion of the TCAAP site. Mr. Wertish indicated the Guard plans to use it as a training site. Councilmember Larson stated he believes the square mile area is planned to be us cd for a future park and doesn't like the fact that the line would run right across it. Mayor Probst asked why the City would have to pay the extra cost for an underground line. Mr. Wertish restated NSP's obligation to provide the most cost effective, reliable source of power and in this case, it would be overhead. Mayor Probst stated, based on this logic, all lines would be overhead and asked why some newer communities have underground lines. Mr. Johnson stated in cases of new residential and commercial development, the standard is greenfield - installation so they do go underground. These are not main line feeders but local distribution lines.