Residents raise alarms after gas‑line survey, allege trespass and secrecy

Several Geary County residents told commissioners at an evening meeting they received survey notices and, in multiple cases, observed or stopped survey crews they say were on private property while working on a proposed Kansas Gas Service transmission line.

The most detailed comments came from a resident who identified herself only as Christy, who said she and other property owners received an April 16 letter from Ben Burton of SMH Consulting notifying them that a survey was planned. "We received a letter from engineers out of Manhattan saying that they needed to do a survey for a pipeline," she said. She added she was told the line was a "gas line" and that survey routes appeared to cross several homeowners' land.

Christy said she later saw Kansas Gas Service trucks on Britt Road and that a Kansas Gas Service employee told her crews were surveying because of a problem with a pipeline by the county landfill. She said the company told her the county did not need to be consulted. "She said, 'well, they don't need to know,'" Christy said, paraphrasing the person who contacted her.

Pam, another resident who spoke, said surveyors had trespassed on three landowners' properties without permission and were seeking a 100‑foot easement across farmland, including land she rents out off Taylor Road. "They're a transmission line, not a distribution line," Pam said. "They're a lot more dangerous … possible explosions, fires, leaks." She warned that a 100‑foot swath would prohibit future development on those tracts.

Karen Olberstein, who said she and her husband rent property off Old 40, reported that surveyors entered her rental property and that her renter confronted them. "She caught him surveying and told him they were trespassing — they told her the gas company told him to get the survey done no matter what," Karen said.

Speakers said they had contacted the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) and county GIS staff and had not received sufficient detail about the project route, who ordered the survey, or whether the survey team had the landowners' consent. Christy said the surveyors gave her three proposed route locations but refused to confirm specific alignments when asked.

County officials on the dais agreed to pursue information. In response to questions, a commissioner identified as Betsy (first name only in the record) offered to reach out to the KCC. The commission did not make any directive or adopt motion during the public‑comment period; commissioners said they would attempt to obtain whatever information the utility or state agency would provide and promised to keep affected property owners informed.

Why it matters: Commenters framed their concerns around property rights, safety and local notification. They said a long, permanent transmission easement could prevent future development and could endanger wells and other private improvements if routed across older parcels. Multiple speakers said they feared utility use of eminent‑domain authority and said the county should be kept in the loop.

What remains unresolved: The transcript includes no county staff report or utility presentation that explains the purpose, footprint or timing of any proposed transmission line, nor does it record a formal request from the county to the utility or KCC during the meeting. Speakers said KCC staff had limited information on file and that the survey firm and Kansas Gas Service had not provided route maps to property owners who asked.

County next steps stated on the record: a commissioner volunteered to contact KCC; county staff said they would attempt to obtain records and share any information provided with the residents who raised the concern.

Local authorities and references mentioned: Kansas Gas Service (company), SMH Consulting (engineers), Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). No statute or ordinance was cited during public comment.

"They lied to her," Christy said of a reported instance where a surveyor allegedly told one neighbor it had permission when neighbors say it did not. The county did not confirm the specific trespass claims during the meeting.

The comments were made during the meeting's public comment period; no formal agenda item, permit application or recorded vote regarding the pipeline appeared in the minutes for this session.

Residents who raised concerns asked the county to notify property owners of any filings and to request more complete route and easement information from the utility or KCC.