Power lines Ok’d for Nordland Township despite opposition

Lyon County Commissioners approved the installation of power lines along the north side of County Road 8 in Nordland Township at Tuesday’s board meeting.
The approval was made after a 3-2 vote with Board Chair Steve Ritter and Commissioner Paul Graupmann voting “no” after hearing testimony from Dr. Scott Josephson, a resident from Minneota who lives along the approved route.
Josephson prefaced his comments to board members by saying that his thoughts represented the feelings of both himself and his four siblings.
“Just because this is the preferred route, that doesn’t mean it’s the route that is in the best interest of the community members and the landowners affected by the construction of the powerline,” Josephson said. “With all due respect, as Lyon County commissioners, you don’t represent East River (Electric Power) company or its best interest. You represent the community members whose property is directly affected by the construction of the power lines. If we, as your constituents, offer an alternative route that is feasible, although possibly a little less convenient initially for the power company, I would seriously hope that it would warrant serious consideration.”
Built in 1968, the initial power line was built farther south than where the new route will be located that was approved at Tuesday’s meeting.
The alternative route discussed at the meeting was 1 mile south of the proposed route, with allegedly fewer properties affected.
Josephson’s sibling, Jyl Josephson, wrote a letter to the Lyon County Zoning Board, arguing that the placement may interfere with the use of their land. “In particular, I am concerned that the placement of the power line might inhibit field access for farm equipment,” Josephson said in the letter.
“Our families will be living with these decisions permanently as it affects property values, livelihoods, the aesthetics of our homes, and as some are concerned, our health,” Josephson said.
Josephson pointed out that the power lines would go across his front lawn and that his grandchildren “will certainly be playing within 120 feet of it.”
A study in the United Kingdom discovered that children living in homes as far as 600 meters, or 1,968.5 feet, from a high voltage power line are 23 percent more likely to be diagnosed with leukemia. Children within 200 meters, or 656.168 feet, have an increased risk of 69 percent.
Commissioner Charlie Sanow argued that the research seems to have a different answer of what is a safe distance from power lines based on what the source was.
“There was one source from Australia that said a safe distance isn’t until you’re as far as a mile away,” Sanow said.
Having power lines installed along a paved highway has a convenience factor associated with it, Josephson contended.
“Being on a paved highway, that’s not just purely convenience for us,” responded East River Electric Engineering Manager Matt Moore. “It’s also a safety concern for the crews that are working there.”
Sanow piggy-backed off Moore’s statement, saying that he also needs to be looking out for the workers’ safety who will be working on the power lines, often in dangerous weather conditions.
Board members ended up voting in favor of continuing on with the controversial location along County Road 8, sections 7 and 8 of Nordland Township, with Ritter and Graupmann voting against the placement.
“The burden should be on the companies to make their case and not the residents to have to defend what was already done,” Graupmann said.

In other news, the board:
• Discussed creating a local advisory committee to give recommendations on economic development in Lyon County.
• Adopted a resolution that recommended the appointment of Joseph Weber, Rod Spronk and Jerry Lonneman as commissioners on the Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water Board for another four-year term.
• Approved a five-year landfill wastewater treatment agreement with the City of Marshall Wastewater treatment plan that will continue through Aug. 31, 2026.
• Approved the hiring of Progressive Environmental Services out of Portmouth, VA, to conduct leachate collection system cleaning.
• Approved the replacement of carpet, ceiling tile and lighting in the LEC shared squad room area and interview rooms at the Lyon County Law Enforcement Center.
• Authorized Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen to go to bid for the jail security project.