Plymouth approves easement with ATC as residents urge reroute of proposed transmission line near Nichols Creek

The Plymouth City Council on a 5-3 vote approved an easement with American Transmission Company (ATC) to allow work, equipment staging and future maintenance at Substation Number 5, while residents urged the council to press ATC to change a planned high-voltage transmission route that they say would affect homes, livestock and Nichols Creek.

The easement, presented by Tim Blakesley, the city administrator, mirrors the city’s standard agreement for other substations and has been reviewed by outside counsel. "Staff does recommend approval of the easement as presented," Blakesley told the council before members moved and seconded the measure.

The vote followed a sustained public comment period in which speakers described environmental and property impacts they expect if the transmission line follows the primary route shown in ATC plans. "I'm here to draw a parallel between smoking tobacco and high voltage transmission wires," said Jerry Preben, a resident, as he urged more study of possible health effects. Christie Sorensen, a resident who said the line would cross the Cedar Springs Trout Farm, told the council, "I'm asking for your help to save our homes, our land, and Nichols Creek, which is a class 1 trout stream." Dan Kramer, another resident who presented maps, said, "On the primary route there are 49 homes" that would be affected and warned that clearing the right-of-way could warm tributary ponds that feed Nichols Creek.

Those who spoke asked the city to reconsider routing to spare residences, farms and the trout fishery, and several commenters said affected landowners may pursue civil claims if the route proceeds as planned. "Those of us that have businesses or a few of the close residents that will be affected or forced to end their way of life have a good chance of winning a civil claim suit," Kramer said during public comment.

Council discussion before the vote focused on the easement language and legal review. Blakesley told the council Boardman Clark attorney Heinemann and the city attorney reviewed the easement and that ATC anticipates construction to begin shortly. The motion to approve the substation transmission line and access easement with ATC for Substation Number 5 passed on roll call: Penquets — yes; Bittner — yes; Matzdorff — yes; Herman — yes; Hildebrand — no; Gilson — no; Sandy — no; Taucek — yes. The clerk recorded the outcome as 5 yes, 3 no.

The meeting record does not show the council directing staff to require ATC to reroute the line or to reopen the route review. Residents who addressed the council urged further review and said they have previously raised route concerns with the Public Service Commission and the county. The transcript shows the public comment and easement items were considered on the same agenda night, but no formal action on route selection appears in the council record provided.

The council approval authorizes ATC access to Substation Number 5 under the easement terms presented; ATC’s construction timeline and any subsequent route changes were not specified in the record beyond Blakesley’s statement that ATC anticipates construction to begin shortly.