Commissioners pause Winchester Road conduit after landowners say line not for public service

Adams County commissioners paused work on a planned broadband conduit along Winchester Road after learning the line’s stated purpose is to carry a transmission route rather than provide service to local homes.

The issue arose during discussion after resident and landowner Micah Borne told the commission he and other property owners along Winchester Road were concerned that the proposed installation would run a private transmission line across county right of way but would not “service the public.” He said the engineering representative told him “the intent of this line is not to service the public.”

That clarification prompted questions about whether the county should grant easements for a private utility that would not directly benefit county residents. One commissioner summarized the concern: the line “really will not provide benefit to county residents, at least not direct benefit, maybe indirectly, but not direct benefit.” Commissioners and staff agreed the project would not move forward without further formal action by the board and additional review by county staff.

Commissioners and staff discussed legal and practical implications for landowners. One participant said the county might lack standing to permit a private utility to cross private property without negotiation between the company and landowners. Another suggested the company should treat the installation like a pipeline or other private utility and “negotiate with the land owner, contract to go through their property and compensate them accordingly.” Officials also raised concerns about future maintenance and liability: if a landowner later needs to repair drainage and encounters buried fiber, who would be responsible?

County staff said they are continuing research on rights-of-way and easement authority and confirmed that the project is on hold. No formal permit or easement was approved at the meeting; commissioners said the installation “won’t progress again without formal action from us.”

The discussion included requests that staff gather more details about who the line would serve, the company’s long-term plans, and whether prior examples exist in neighboring counties for permitting similar private transmission lines. Commissioners asked staff to report back with legal and procedural recommendations before any permit is approved.

What’s next: the county will not authorize work to proceed while staff researches right-of-way authority, private-utility precedent and landowner compensation options. Commissioners said they expect a follow-up report before taking formal action.