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Morgan County approves Tri‑State deadline waiver, schedules Dec. 16 public hearing for Big Sandy–Badger Creek line
Summary
The Board of Morgan County Commissioners approved a deadline‑waiver agreement with Tri‑State Generation & Transmission setting a Dec. 16, 2025 public hearing on a proposed 230‑kV Big Sandy–Badger Creek line and stipulating continuation limits; the vote was 2‑0.
Morgan County commissioners on Oct. 7 approved a deadline‑waiver agreement requested by Tri‑State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. that sets a public hearing on a proposed 230‑kilovolt transmission line for Dec. 16, 2025.
Nicole Hay, Morgan County Planning and Zoning Director, told the board Tri‑State and Power Engineers filed a 1041 Areas and Activities of State Interest application for the Big Sandy–Badger Creek project; the initial submittal was incomplete, and Power Engineers was notified the application was complete on Aug. 29, 2025. State law requires a local government to take final action within 90 days of receipt of a completed application and to publish a hearing notice within 30 days. Tri‑State asked the county to waive those deadlines to allow scheduling and review; the county and Tri‑State agreed to hold the public hearing Dec. 16, 2025 and to limit further continuances unless Tri‑State requests one.
Hay summarized the application history and the requested schedule; the board discussed the waiver’s language and a proposed change to section two offered by county staff. Chairman Jon J. Becker asked to remove a clause that would place an end date on when a continuance must be finalized; the board adopted the waiver with the planning director’s proposed change and then approved the agreement on a 2‑0 vote after Commissioner Kelvin S. Bernhardt moved and Becker seconded.
The waiver does not itself approve the project; it permits the county to set a hearing schedule that differs from statutory deadlines with the applicant’s consent. The hearing notification and record will provide the public an opportunity to comment on project details, route alternatives and mitigation measures. Morgan County staff advised the hearing must be published consistent with county 1041 regulations and state notice requirements.
Next steps: the county will publish hearing notice for Dec. 16, 2025 and accept public comment according to the notice; no final action on the 1041 application was taken at the Oct. 7 meeting.
