Council delays vote on Maxwell substation after legal dispute over property taking

The Norman City Council voted 6-2 on Feb. 25 to postpone action on a special-use permit for Western Farmers Electric Cooperative’s proposed Maxwell Substation at 70 Second Avenue until the Cleveland County district court rules on portions of an ongoing condemnation case.

The delay came after extended presentations by the applicant and its partners, questions from city staff and council, and multiple members of the public asking the council to wait for the court’s determination on the taking’s necessity and other exceptions. The motion to postpone passed with council members voting against it recorded as Councilmembers Hinkle and Scott.

Western Farmers representatives said the Maxwell Substation is needed to relieve increasing load pressure in the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC) distribution area and to improve reliability during extreme weather. Joe Bridal, representing Western Farmers, introduced the company’s presentation. Matt Caves, vice president of legal and regulatory compliance for Western Farmers, described the co-op’s role in acquiring land for substations and its history serving Oklahoma. Patrick Grace, chief executive officer of Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, said OEC has seen steady 3–5% annual load growth and that a recent winter storm pushed loads near historic peaks; he said the proposed facility would add about 20 megawatts of distribution capacity for the area.

City staff and council members pressed…