Residents weigh in on southside transmission line project

Columbia Missourian

COLUMBIA — The city of Columbia held an open house Wednesday to allow residents to give feedback about a proposed electric transmission line project.

The transmission line, which the City Council approved in 2013, would allow the city to meet federal regulations for reliable electricity. The route will run along Providence Road, Grindstone Parkway, Nifong Boulevard, Vawter School Road and Scott Boulevard.

Tables at the open house at Rock Bridge High School split the line into three segments — Scott Boulevard; Vawter School Road and Nifong Boulevard; and Nifong Boulevard and Grindstone Parkway. It enabled residents to pinpoint their property and discuss how the route would affect their homes .

"It's an appropriate time to come forward to the public and say 'OK, we've selected the route a few years ago,'" said Water and Light spokesperson Connie Kacprowicz. "'Now we've done some more engineering and figured out where the poles might possibly be located and gather input.'"

Other tables had information about the designs of the poles, electromagnetic fields and where the city would be allowed to put poles if the plans changed.

Some residents were pleased with the in-depth nature of the open house.

"It gets down to the nitty gritty," said John Conway, who is on the Water and Light Advisory Board. "If anybody has any question, it can be answered."

Other residents believed the discussion should have happened before the City Council voted on the line in the first place.

"This decision was made without the citizens being aware. It's a serious case of omission," resident Carolyn Hawks said. "How fair is it if you work hard and buy a house and then there's this giant power line?"

The route runs near Mill Creek Elementary School, and some people are concerned about electromagnetic fields and possible negative health effects associated with them .

Detelina Marinova, a resident and parent of a Mill Creek Elementary student, said the open house did not inform residents of the possible adverse health effects.

"There was no discussion," Marinova said. "It was a one-way communication basically, from the city to the citizens."

Residents can provide input about the project at www.poweringcolumbia.com until Oct. 14.