Adrian officials raise concerns about power line
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Sunday, December 14, 2008 1:08 AM PST
VALE —Adrian city officials added their voices of dissent Wednesday to the proposed routing of Idaho Power’s planned 500-kilovolt transmission line through Malheur County.
The officials voiced concern regarding the proposed line project during a meeting of city and county leaders in the Malheur County Court chambers.
Idaho Power’s preferred route wraps around Adrian as it comes into Oregon from south of the Snake River and crosses the river between Adrian and Nyssa to reach a substation in the Sand Hollow area north of Caldwell.
“It’s in the middle of our million-dollar water project,” Shawn Snyder, Adrian city recorder said. Officials are concerned some of the equipment in the water project, which will be controlled by radio, will be affected by the overhead lines as they carry the electrical load, she said.
City leaders will soon meet with the project engineer to discuss the issue. Jon Beal, county planner, who has been coordinating the county’s response to Idaho Power’s plan, said he would also be attending that meeting.
Also, during the meeting, Alan Daniels, Ontario airport manager and economic development director, said improvements at the airport are making a difference, and he is optimistic the city will receive funding to complete needed upgrades.
“I’ve seen an increase in jet traffic,” he said.
The city received ConnectOregon funds to lengthen the runway to 5,000 feet, for safer landing and takeoffs by jets, and Daniels said the Federal Aviation Administration has put together a funding package that will be the city’s match should it be awarded ConnectOregon II funding. Ontario’s airport project, which included expanding the parking areas for airplanes, was not funded during the final selection of ConnectOregon II, but it is on the “bubble,” Daniels said.
He also noted Ontario’s newest truck stop is open and Lifeflight is using its new hangar and crew quarters at the airport. During his report, Brent Barton, Vale city manager, said officials there are making preparations to pave the runway at the Vale airport, expected sometime next year. That was one of the projects chosen to be funded by ConnectOregon II. process.
