Aldermen approve overhead transmission loop for Cascades Town Center

The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen voted to approve an overhead electrical transmission plan for the Cascades Town Center development, choosing the option favored by the developer and North Central Electric Cooperative.

The board approved “Option 1,” an overhead loop with distribution lines serving individual lots, after a presentation by city staff and utility and engineering representatives about three alternatives: a fully overhead system (Option 1), a revised partial-burial plan (revised Option 2) and full undergrounding. The motion to adopt Option 1 was made by Alderman Ricky Dickerson and seconded by Alderman Henderson; the vote carried unanimously.

City staff and the developer’s engineer described trade-offs among cost, reliability and appearance. Greg Russell, engineer with Civil Source, said he and the project team had studied several arrangements and described a design that uses an overhead feeder loop with underground lateral service to buildings: "I learned a lot about electricity in the past couple of weeks," Russell said, and explained the plan to place poles primarily around the project perimeter and put service lines underground into buildings.

Larry Johnson of North Central Electric Cooperative told the board the cooperative’s analysis supported an overhead backbone for a development of the Cascades’ size and density. "The best way to serve this size of a planned development ... is to use an overhead line to create a backbone," Johnson said, adding that poles were sited on property lines to reduce visual clutter and to speed restoration work in outages.

City staff reviewed costs for the alternatives. The revised partial‑burial design (revised Option 2) would bury utilities along the Highway 305 frontage but still require at least one new pole at the project entrance; staff said the utility and developer estimate for the incremental buried frontage work is $370,000 payable to North Central to serve the first four lots. Staff also said replacing existing wooden poles with upgraded aluminum poles is estimated at about $90,000 under either option. Full undergrounding, staff said, would exceed $1 million and would slow construction because of material lead times.

Supporters of Option 1 emphasized faster installation, lower cost and utility reliability; opponents and some board members raised aesthetics and long‑term appearance concerns. Alderman Earhart said he preferred undergrounding for aesthetic reasons but that the additional technical information provided clarity on the trade-offs.

After discussion the board adopted the staff recommendation to choose Option 1, the overhead loop preferred by the developer (Focal Point Investments LLC) and North Central Electric Cooperative. Alderman Dickerson made the motion; Alderman Henderson seconded. The board voted in favor and the motion carried.

The decision commits the project to an overhead feeder loop with underground service laterals to individual buildings for most internal service drops; staff noted that even with some burial, the project will still require overhead crossings at two locations where transmission connection is necessary.

Speakers at the meeting said construction timing could be faster with overhead equipment in stock; North Central indicated material for some underground feeder equipment may have long lead times. Staff and North Central also said additional burial beyond the approved scope would require extra funding from the developer and additional ordering of materials.

The board’s approval allows the developer to proceed with the approved transmission approach as the Cascades project moves toward final plats and construction.