WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Residents of one Wausau neighborhood are concerned over Wisconsin Public Service’s (WPS) proposed relocation of power lines.
Concerns over the safety of power lines began in 2019, when a fallen transmission line caused a fire at Steve Roberts’s house on Campus Drive. “My home was destroyed by the fire,” Roberts said.
In August 2020, WPS approached the city to relocate and replace the lines. In July 2021, the company sent letters to residents informing them of the plan, saying it was the best option.
The proposal would move the lines to East Randolph Street, heading north on Burek Avenue and out to the town of Maine on Decator Drive.
“Everyone (thought) that route was presented to was accepting of that route in our neighborhood,” alderperson Lisa Rasmussen said.
On August 5, however, the city was informed the route had changed. Current plans show lines running through Campus Drive “The route that we’ve chosen and the plan that we’ve chosen is the one that allows us to be able to efficiently upgrade this line, minimize it’s impact to landowners and residents and businesses in the area,” said Matt Cullen, a spokesman for WPS. Cullen said WPS’ goal was to inform residents of the neighborhoods with open conversation, which included meetings, door-to-door visits and petitions.
However, Campus Drive residents say they feel ignored and that a petition they wrote to change the route back didn’t receive a response.
WPS requested a permit to cut into certain properties, but the city denied it due to the way residents have been treated. The permit was set to be revisited at the September 13 council meeting, but WPS withdrew it from the agenda.
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