Residents raise concerns about Encore transmission-route plans; Erath County says it will engage

A resident told the Erath County Commissioners on Monday that many county residents are worried about proposed Encore transmission-line routes and asked the county to coordinate with neighboring counties and regional bodies.

Joanna Friebel, a resident who attended a recent community meeting on Encore, told the court, "People are concerned. People are worried about it and don't really know what's going on." She asked what role the county would play and requested that the court consider forming a regional commission or a multi-county forum to review the proposals.

During the court’s new-business discussion, the commissioners said they are pursuing meetings with Encore and will press the company to address county engineering and communications concerns. The court noted that proposed monopoles or lattice towers could reach roughly "175 to 200 feet tall," and that the county has invested in communications towers and other infrastructure that could be affected.

"I will do everything that I'm possibly allowed to protect us on that aspect," the presiding judge told the court, noting the county's intent to consult its engineers and to seek a seat at the table. The court said it is working with neighboring jurisdictions and listed Hood County, Somervell County and Palo Pinto County as other counties potentially affected by the project route.

Commissioners emphasized the county will seek to avoid placing financial burdens on local taxpayers for infrastructure adjustments and said they will coordinate with Encore to review alternate routes, engineering impacts and any effects on existing communications systems.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; the court said it will continue scheduling talks with Encore, solicit input from county engineers and update the public as meetings are arranged.