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Alma council authorizes Dairyland Power to sign forms that include request to disturb uncatalogued burial site for transmission project
Summary
Dairyland Power requested three forms for the Alma-Blair Transmission Project, including a request to disturb an uncatalogued human burial site; the council authorized signing the survey consent, archaeological permit, and the burial disturbance request and accepted $400 for the city.
Leland Swift, appearing by Zoom for Dairyland Power, told the City of Alma Common Council on Nov. 20, 2025 that the Alma-Blair Transmission Project requires three city signatures: a survey consent form, a Wisconsin Public Lands field archaeological permit and a request to disturb an uncatalogued human burial site.
Swift said the disturbance would be done by hand digging and immediately backfilled after a soil sample is taken, and that Dairyland Power will pay the city $400 for the request. The council voted to authorize signing all three forms.
The council recorded the motion to authorize the signing of the survey consent form, the Wisconsin Public Lands Field Archaeological permit form, and the request to disturb an uncatalogued human burial site for Dairyland Power's Alma-Blair Transmission Project. The motion was made by Gary Jepsen and seconded by Davie Meier and carried by roll call vote.
Why it matters: authorizing a disturbance of an uncatalogued burial site is a sensitive permitting decision that typically requires archaeological oversight and clear documentation of methods and mitigation. The record here states hand excavation and immediate backfilling; no additional mitigation steps or tribal consultations are recorded in the meeting minutes.
