Board approves Corn Belt Power permit for transmission rebuild; supervisors press staff on Bancroft right‑of‑way

The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors approved a permit allowing Corn Belt Power to rebuild overhead transmission lines that cross county roads in several townships, while supervisors urged continued efforts to secure road right‑of‑way from landowners near Bancroft.

County staff described the project as an overhead transmission‑line reconstruction affecting Ledyard Township, Ramsey Township, Portland and Sherman townships. Staff said Corn Belt Power offered to relocate poles if the county can obtain permanent right‑of‑way from adjacent landowners, a step staff said would avoid county expense.

Doug (county staff) told the board he had been meeting with landowners to attempt to buy road right‑of‑way in the Bancroft area and urged the board to approve the permit so Corn Belt can proceed with scheduled reconstruction. “This would be an opportunity to take advantage of that,” he said, describing a plan in which Corn Belt would move poles at no cost to the county if the right‑of‑way problem is resolved.

Supervisors asked for clarity about the Bancroft parcels and whether approval of the permit would foreclose future county purchases. Doug said the specific section east of Bancroft was not included in Corn Belt’s immediate plan, and that the permit under consideration concerned crossings of county roads rather than a parallel right‑of‑way. He also told the board Corn Belt anticipated construction as early as late February, and that the county would have a short window to finalize any right‑of‑way purchase if it wanted poles moved as part of the project.

Supervisor Stecker moved and Supervisor Haas seconded a motion to approve the permit; after brief discussion the board approved the motion and staff signed the permit documents. Supervisors directed staff to continue negotiating with landowners about the Bancroft right‑of‑way so the county can take advantage of pole relocations if agreements are reached.

The board did not adopt further conditions on the permit; staff said cost to the county would be avoided if right‑of‑way purchases are completed in time for Corn Belt’s contracted work.