News
Cochise County supervisors support power line
By Shar Porier/Wick communications
BISBEE - The Cochise County Board of Supervisors stood behind the new 69kV subtransmission line and substation proposed by Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative in the western part of the county.
At their meeting Tuesday, Supervisors Richard Searle, Ann English and Pat Call agreed that the upgrade to the failing power line in the Whetstone-Patagonia area was necessary for current county residents and future growth. They agreed to send a letter to the Arizona Corporation Commission to show their support.
Currently, SSVEC's line that serves the area is at capacity and subscribers can encounter 270 hours of power outages a year. The idea is to run a heavier line from Mustang Corners at Highway 90 and Highway 82 in Whetstone to Patagonia, said Jack Blair, SSVEC's chief member services officer. The project includes a new substation.
Blair gave the supervisors an overview of the response received from the co-op's subscribers in a poll that was overwhelmingly supportive for the project.
Eighty-eight percent said they were satisfied with SSVEC service and 84 percent said the line should be built. Eleven percent of the customers they spoke with opposed the new line.
In December, due to public outcry, an independent study was ordered by the Corporation Commission. Protesters said the new line would create environmental impacts to fragile grasslands and biodiversity in the Babocamari area.
The power company agreed to pay $360,000 for the study, even though the Corporation Commission has no say in transmission lines under 110 kV, Blair said. The study, paid for by SSVEC members, was conducted by Navigant Consulting of Massachusetts to determine a route and the necessity. The route selected by Navigant offered the least imposition on viewsheds and affected the fewest residents.
In hopes that the utility company doesn't have to jump through any more hoops at the cost to subscribers, the supervisors agreed to send the letter of support.
Supervisor Pat Call said he was upset with Newman's description of county residents, but felt that the bigger issue was the bullying tactics of the Corporation Commission on a small company.
"We need to consider the rogue nature of the current ACC board," added Call. "The ACC is obviously concerning itself with matters it shouldn't."
Though Ann English's husband sits on the SSVEC board of directors, deputy county civil attorney Britt Hanson said it was not a conflict of interest for her to vote on the matter.
Supervisor Richard Searle pointed out that SSVEC has a long history of serving residents in the county and that it is "a solid company."
In other business ...
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors also:
Agreed to take three roads that will be built by the Arizona Department of Transportation to their standards into the county maintenance system once completed. The three roads are located in the Benson Interstate 10 interchange that is scheduled for realignment. The roads are West Dark Star Road, North Vidal Trail and West Calvary Lane. Though pavement should last a number of years, the county would have to maintain the drainage structures and roadsides.
Approved an agreement between the county and Sierra Vista for the use of Community Development Block Grants to assist with emergency home repairs for low to moderate income residents.
OK'd the appointment of Superior Court judges pro tempore John F. Kelliher, Margaret Macartney and Ann Battaglia Roberts.
Approved an additional $40,000 from a Department of Homeland Security grant.
Approved an amendment to the HIV prevention program between the state and county health departments in the amount of $18,666.
Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Bisbee to provide hardware and software to run Spillman system through grant funds of $372,674.
Approved a work session to discuss the county's image campaign and standardize business cards, letterhead and county forms.
At their meeting Tuesday, Supervisors Richard Searle, Ann English and Pat Call agreed that the upgrade to the failing power line in the Whetstone-Patagonia area was necessary for current county residents and future growth. They agreed to send a letter to the Arizona Corporation Commission to show their support.
Currently, SSVEC's line that serves the area is at capacity and subscribers can encounter 270 hours of power outages a year. The idea is to run a heavier line from Mustang Corners at Highway 90 and Highway 82 in Whetstone to Patagonia, said Jack Blair, SSVEC's chief member services officer. The project includes a new substation.
Blair gave the supervisors an overview of the response received from the co-op's subscribers in a poll that was overwhelmingly supportive for the project.
Eighty-eight percent said they were satisfied with SSVEC service and 84 percent said the line should be built. Eleven percent of the customers they spoke with opposed the new line.
In December, due to public outcry, an independent study was ordered by the Corporation Commission. Protesters said the new line would create environmental impacts to fragile grasslands and biodiversity in the Babocamari area.
The power company agreed to pay $360,000 for the study, even though the Corporation Commission has no say in transmission lines under 110 kV, Blair said. The study, paid for by SSVEC members, was conducted by Navigant Consulting of Massachusetts to determine a route and the necessity. The route selected by Navigant offered the least imposition on viewsheds and affected the fewest residents.
In hopes that the utility company doesn't have to jump through any more hoops at the cost to subscribers, the supervisors agreed to send the letter of support.
Supervisor Pat Call said he was upset with Newman's description of county residents, but felt that the bigger issue was the bullying tactics of the Corporation Commission on a small company.
"We need to consider the rogue nature of the current ACC board," added Call. "The ACC is obviously concerning itself with matters it shouldn't."
Though Ann English's husband sits on the SSVEC board of directors, deputy county civil attorney Britt Hanson said it was not a conflict of interest for her to vote on the matter.
Supervisor Richard Searle pointed out that SSVEC has a long history of serving residents in the county and that it is "a solid company."
In other business ...
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors also:
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