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Board briefed on We Energies easement request to bury power line near Pilgrim Park
Summary
We Energies asked the district for a permanent utility easement along the east property line of Pilgrim Park to bury distribution cables; the district reported no payment is typical, the line would reduce weather-related outages and the proposed trenching is mostly by directional boring.
We Energies has requested an easement across the eastern edge of Pilgrim Park to allow burial of power distribution cable as part of a local reliability upgrade, district staff told the board.
What was presented District facilities staff said the utility company seeks a roughly 367‑foot long by 12‑foot wide permanent easement in the woods along Pilgrim Park’s eastern property line. The utility’s plan would relocate the overhead line underground; staff said the change should reduce outages caused by falling trees and improve service to Pilgrim Park and nearby facilities, including the district’s Dixon building where the district keeps network servers.
Financial and operational terms According to staff, We Energies does not pay a fee for this type of easement; the company seeks access and maintenance rights. The district noted most work would be installed by directional boring with limited surface disturbance, and the utility would handle ongoing maintenance of its buried infrastructure. Staff said the easement would prevent permanent construction atop the easement area but that simple recreational uses (trails) could remain compatible.
Board questions Trustees asked about timing, scope and impacts on students and neighbors; staff said work was not immediate and likely to occur in a later construction season (spring) and that the district would coordinate details and safety mitigations. Board members also asked for clarification of the geographic scope of the utility upgrade; staff offered to return with a map and a schedule from the utility.
Next steps Administration will obtain more detailed engineering plans, a project schedule and precise easement language to present with the easement instrument at a future meeting for formal approval.
