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Utilities-permit ordinance continued after electric co-op raises concerns
Summary
A first reading of an amended utilities ordinance prompted opposition from West River Electric, which said provisions reached beyond coordination and could harm reliability and emergency response; commissioners agreed to a stakeholder meeting and continued the ordinance to January.
The board heard first reading of an amendment to the county ordinance governing installation, relocation and ground-disturbing activities in county rights-of-way. Highway staff and the state's attorney explained the changes: clarifying that any ground disturbance in the right-of-way requires a permit, updating terminology and adding a hazardous-utility definition, while preserving separate treatment for utility-scale alternative energy projects.
Robert Raker, CEO of West River Electric, told the commission the ordinance "goes beyond coordination" and raised concerns about unintended consequences for reliability, emergency restoration and day-to-day operations. He asked for more collaboration and cautioned that some language could create ambiguity for future staff or contractors. County staff and attorneys said the intent was to give highway staff clear authority to enforce construction specifications and hold subcontractors accountable rather than rely solely on franchise agreements.
Commissioners agreed that West River and other utilities should meet with county staff and the state's attorney to work through specific language, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for the second meeting in January. The board voted to continue the item to allow for that stakeholder collaboration.
