Jamie Koerner

    The new 345 kilovolt power line proposed by Nebraska Public Power District may affect a calving operation, a cattle feeding operation, a turkey farm and a pivot in Seward County, Ron Gade of Seward, a member of the citizens' committee that opposes the NPPD route, said at the Seward County Commissioners' meeting Nov. 6.
     The citizens' committee, which was represented at the meeting by Gade and Pat Reed of Pleasant Dale, showed a map that had NPPD's proposed route and the new citizens' committee map.
     Gade said that NPPD's route would affect 41 people within a quarter-mile. The citizens' committee proposed route would affect 31.
     The NPPD route affects three that are less than 500 feet from the power line and the citizens' route doesn't come within 500 feet of any home.
     NPPD's proposed route comes within 170 feet of Reed's home. Reed has three young children.
     Gade said the location of the power line needs to be taken seriously because it may affect people's personal lives, including the health of their children and even though there is not medical proof that close proximity to power lines affects health, there is resistance and concern even outside Seward County.
     "People of Connecticut have formed a coalition to bury power lines underground around schools and learning centers," Gade said. "Evidently, there is some concern about young peoples' health."
     Gade asked Highway Superintendent Russ Daehling to speak about how it will affect the Seward County Road Department.
     Daehling said that the road department may experience some additional costs when the power line is constructed because it may have to replace or add section corners.
     Reed said that he is concerned with the time line of the project and wants to make sure the route chosen by NPPD is the best route and not the quickest.
     "NPPD needs to take more time and look at a better route," Reed said. "They missed their forecast of power and that is why they are in such a hurry to get this done."
     In another matter, the board met with Dan Williamson of Williamson Consulting, Omaha, and decided to interview all six architectural firms that sent request for proposals (RFPs) for the new Seward County jail, rather than choosing a few from the RFPs to be interviewed.
     The companies that sent an RFP to the commissioners to be opened Oct. 9 were:
     Omaha: DLR Group, Prochaska and Associates and Carlson West Povondra Architects;
     Lincoln: BVH Architects and Davis Design; and
     St. Joseph, Mo.: Goldberg Sullivan and McCrerey.
     Chairman Joe Ruzicka recommended taking the time to hear each firm's proposal and then making an informed decision about which firm will design the new jail.
     "I wouldn't mind sitting in on all six because they made the attempt to answer us and we may be able to find other reasons why they could be included," Ruzicka said. "They should at least be allowed to present."
     Commissioners Darrell Miller and Mary Koci agreed.
     "They will be able to give us a full sales pitch," Miller said.
     "We may see one thing in one that we don't in another," Koci said.
     The commissioners will interview the six architectural firms Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 8 a.m. through approximately 5 p.m. at the Seward Civic Center. The interviews are open to the public. Each firm will have 20 minutes to set-up, 30 minutes to present, 15 minutes for question and answer and 10 minutes to tear-down.
     In other business, the board:
     • approved planting a tree in the northeast corner of the courthouse at the request of Pat Coldiron of the Seward Chamber of Commerce to use for Christmas festivities. The commissioners requested that Coldiron collect donations for the planting of the tree. Ruzicka suggested that, for safety reasons, an electrical line be buried and available near the tree to use when lights are strung;
     • heard from Seward County Sheriff Joe Yocum, who said that he is back to being fully staffed, with two of his deputies being out on medical leave previously;
     • accepted the Clerk of District Court fees in the amount of $2,709.95; and
     • authorized the chairman to sign the right of way Certification Project contract for the southeast Beaver Crossing bridge and the compensation estimates and just compensation form for the Staplehurst Northwest bridge.