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Benton County approves Xcel estimate, faces up to roughly $673,000 bill and schedule risk for roundabout
Summary
After an extended exchange with Xcel Energy, Benton County commissioners approved an updated appropriations estimate and authorized the county engineer to sign, accepting an estimated county cost of about $672,958 to relocate poles that conflict with a planned roundabout. Xcel projected an in‑service date of September 2025, a timing that may force the county to phase construction and risk loss of grant funding.
Benton County commissioners voted to authorize a county engineer signature on an updated Xcel Energy appropriations estimate that would require the county to pay roughly $672,958 toward relocating transmission poles that conflict with a proposed roundabout at Mayhew Lake Road and 35th Street.
County engineer Chris Byrd outlined the problem: an initial scoping estimate in June 2024 included a $134,000 payment already made to start design work; XcelEnergyhas since provided a more detailed estimate that, after crediting the $134,000, leaves a county share in the mid six‑figure range. That estimate also delayed XcelEnergythe in‑service date to September 2025.
Xcel Energy project manager Josh Tomlinson told commissioners the original $134,000 "just paid for the design work" and that the secondary payment now requested is "for the actual material." Tomlinson said Xcel had already accelerated some work, ordering soil borings and certain long‑lead items "to keep things expedited." Cody Holmes, Xcel transmission project manager, added that once purchase orders go through, vendors provide firm delivery dates, and Xcel expects to meet an "in service date at the September." (Xcel representatives also stressed that supply‑chain and weather factors can affect that target.)
Commissioners repeatedly pressed Xcel about timing and cost. One commissioner warned that delaying the pole relocation risks pushing the countyroundabout construction into 2026 and could jeopardize nearly $1.15 million in combined grant funding (a $750,000 Highway Safety Improvement Program award and roughly $400,000 from a carbon reduction program) unless project authorization and incurred costs meet state timing rules.
Xcel said utility relocation costs are not eligible for the road construction grants and therefore must come from local sources; Bryd reiterated the county would need to assume utility relocation costs while pursuing federal and state reimbursement only for eligible road construction expenses.
After questions from multiple commissioners, the board voted to approve XcelEnergy ppropriations estimate and to authorize the county engineer to sign the document. Commissioners said they expect to continue pushing Xcel and state partners for the earliest feasible delivery to avoid phasing the roundabout and potentially increasing overall costs.
The county will present the updated timeline and cost implications to grant partners and legislators as it seeks options to preserve federal funds and reduce taxpayer exposure. The board recorded the motion as carried; specific disbursement timing and vendor delivery confirmations remain to be provided by Xcel.
