Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

Gary Ostrom, land rights manager for Great River Energy went before the Linwood Town Board last week to explain plans the company has to build a new power substation in Linwood and an additional transmission line to carry power.

Ostrom brought information about the project to the board and came seeking details about required permits, if any. Smaller projects like this, with shorter power line segments are exempt from state permits. DNR requires site approval.

Frank Kvidera, chairman of the planning and zoning commission, thought central services (i.e. utilities) are exempt from conditional use permits. Attorney Gerald Randall is to check to be certain about this.

Great River Energy supplies power to Connexus Energy and East Central Energy and the proposed electrical improvements include a new 230/69 kV substation west of the city of Wyoming.

The 69 kV line is the principal line, but the company needs another power source. Both it and the 230 kV line through Carlos Avery are north-south lines. The corridor along CR-22 between the two is a logical place to connect them, Ostrom said.

The new substation would be located at the convergence of these two lines, to link the systems together, among other things, bolstering power in the Martin Lake area, and improving reliability. The new segment would be a double circuit line, with the transmission lines being slightly taller to accommodate three additional power lines.

Ostrom likened the upgrades to an “off-ramp on the power grid” to help serve the local area.

Kvidera, by profession a surveyor, suggested a site on the north side of Viking Blvd. would make more sense, since there is the possibility in the future of a wider highway being constructed. Ostrom said GRE preferred the northern site as well, but the DNR will not agree to that location.

In dealing with Minnesota DNR, a land exchange is planned, with GRE exchanging a 40-acre parcel farther south and contiguous with the existing wildlife refuge, for the five-acre parcel they need, just as the county road makes a turn straight west through Carlos Avery.

If the DNR restricts the size of the land available for the substation site, it might be necessary to make a request for variance to allow a parcel smaller than five acres to be split off the land, under township ordinances.

Representatives plan to attend the P&Z meeting in October. By then, they will have more information about DNR site-size requirements and whether a variance is required.

There are increasing demands for electrical power everywhere, according to Ostrom. As one example, plasma TV screens draw 10 times the amount of power as analog TV screens, Ostrom said.

Other actions

By a vote of 4-0, the board certified the 2008 property tax levy in the amount of $1,326,000. Residents approved the levy in March, $100,000 below the budget recommended by the board. Supervisor Scott Bailey did not attend.

Supervisors are moving ahead on several road maintenance projects. At the urging of Supervisor Phil Osterhus the board authorized Engineer Craig Jochum to get requests for proposals, so the contractor can be selected for the work.

There is about one mile total for the work and the estimated cost for it is $1300. There is currently $16,000 in the township budget for crack-filling projects. Vote was 4-0 in favor of the work.

The board also authorized plans for an upgrade of 226th Street. Osterhus estimated seven loads of fill to complete the upgrade.

Supervisors were informed that work to move utilities along Lyons Streets has started. This work must be completed before the streets work is completed.

At last contact has been made with the owner of the blue house on 226th Ave. that has been such a problem to get cleaned up. According to Attorney Randall, the owner of the house also owns the lot to the east, and does not have the money to clean up the site. The owner is aware that if the township cleans up the lot, the cost will be assessed to the property.

When asked, Randall said the owner might consider selling the lots. The board directed him to make an offer on behalf of the township.

After a number of delays and postponements, another final inspection was scheduled for Linwood Pizza. According to Osterhus, it was scheduled for Sept. 14,

Contacted later Dave Thompson, building inspector, said the work is progressing. He added “everyone seems cooperative about the situation and work is progressing in the right direction.” The certificate of occupancy for the facility is issued only after Thompson gives a final approval to all systems.

Initial reports about Linwood Family Fun Day include observations about the large number of families attending and the fire department’s booya selling out all of its three 35-gallon kettles by 11:30 a.m.

According to Supervisor Bob Johnson, there was a good showing and favorable reaction to the first car show. Resident Alan Hurtley was selected as the newest addition to the Linwood Hall of Fame.

The fire department dance attracted more than 400 people, including about 100 who drove from Northfield to hear the Killer Hayseeds. There were about 30 contestants for the pie-eating contest. Fireworks completed the day.

Other business

In other business, the board:

•Authorized payment of the township bills in the amount of $12,002.23.

•Learned from Randall the trial for Kevin Ryan is scheduled in October.

•Learned that a bridge for the disc golf course is being constructed.

•Approved the use of the Linwood Town Hall, for the Senate District 52, Republican Caucus, February 5, 2008 from 6-9 p.m.

•Accepted reports from animal control, petty cash, building inspector and treasurer.

•Learned Linwood Community and School Forest committees meet Oct. 1 in the senior center.

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