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El Dorado homeowner says Evergy transmission easement cut property value; disputes county appraiser
Summary
A resident testified that a high-voltage transmission line and a blanket easement placed by Evergy damaged her property value, that a court appraiser found a drop in value but the county appraiser still lists a higher taxable value, and that she has filed complaints with the Kansas Corporation Commission.
El Dorado — During the revenue-neutral-rate public hearing, resident Carrie Sherburne told commissioners she believes a transmission-line easement placed by Evergy significantly reduced her home’s marketability and taxable value, that a court appraiser found a substantial post-condemnation loss, and that the county appraiser has not reflected those findings.
Sherburne said she lives at 324 North Orchard in El Dorado and described a condemnation proceeding brought by Evergy. “The appraisers determined that Evergy’s blanket easement and right away for the high voltage transmission line reduced the value of my property from 145,000 to 100,000 after the taking,” she said. Sherburne said the county’s current tax valuation is $121,000; she said she has appealed her valuation three times and that the county appraiser told her the easement did not affect value.
Sherburne also said Evergy placed a 100-foot transmission pole with approximately 5,000 pounds of equipment about 19 feet from her living room and that a realtor told her the property was essentially unsellable at market rates with that configuration. She said she filed a complaint with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) and cited the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) minimum easement guidance. Sherburne told commissioners she received $45,000 from the condemnation as compensation for the loss in value but that her attorney took a contingent fee of $10,000, leaving her $35,000 after expenses.
Sherburne asked the county to examine the apparent conflict between the court appraiser’s valuation guidance and the county appraiser’s treatment of easements. She said the county appraiser, identified in public comment as Miss Steenbaker, told her an easement would not affect value — information Sherburne said contradicts the county court’s appraiser guide she reviewed.
County staff did not take immediate action on the individual claim during the hearing; commissioners accepted Sherburne’s statement as public comment. Sherburne said she intends to pursue the KCC complaint and seek legal advice; she provided meeting materials to staff for review.
