Residents, councilors press Dixie Power to verify pole and substation testing after public complaints

A public commenter at the Meadowtown Town Council meeting disputed minutes stating that four utility poles and a substation had been tested, saying from personal inspection that they had not been tested and urging the town to verify the work.

The commenter (S3) said the bolts and poles had not been tested and that "I can physically see they have not been tested." That claim was echoed by other speakers who said they had spoken directly to crews and to Dixie Power; S7 told the council he had asked a Dixie crew and was told the poles had not been tested. S7 said there was visible ground with no evidence of auger work and that the substation had been "rocking" in high wind, emphasizing public-safety concerns.

The Chair acknowledged the discrepancy, saying the minutes reflected what was said at an earlier meeting but that "that request is in and we think they're getting tested here soon." Councilors said a second request to Dixie Power to test the poles had been submitted; council members did not report completion of testing during the meeting.

Councilors and commenters said that Dixie Power representatives had told them different things at different times. S3 said he had spoken to Brandon Cummings, who told him the bolts had not been tested. S6 and others said they had met Dixie representatives in the field who told them the poles had been tested; the council said the town has formally requested a test and is awaiting confirmation.

No formal motion or vote was taken on the issue at the meeting; council members acknowledged the request was in and that they expected testing to be scheduled. The council did not set a follow-up reporting date at the meeting.

The council next moved on to routine accounting and other agenda items.