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Instead, they got an earful from opponents of the plan.
More than 40 residents of the city and township crowded into the council chambers to learn more about CapX2020 — a project to upgrade the power grid to meet growing demands in the Upper Midwest.
One of three proposed power lines could run through La Crescent Township into La Crosse.
State and federal authorities are still assessing whether the upgrades are needed in this area, said Chuck Thompson, manager of siting and regulatory affairs at Dairyland Power Cooperative. Thompson was invited to update the council on the project.
Towers 120 to 150 feet tall, carrying 345,000 kilovolt lines, are proposed to come through La Crescent or Winona, Minn., or Alma, Wis. Power lines already cross the Mississippi River in those towns, and the government mandates that upgrades cross the river where crossings exist.
The need for more power is due to growth and demand, Thompson said, and the current 69,000 kilovolt lines in La Crescent are almost at capacity.
Thompson said public meetings were held in Winona because it was a midpoint for those affected.
“We do not feel as if the public was properly informed. Period.” said La Crescent resident Jeremy Chipps.
Chipps, who has started petitions against the project, presented the council with a resolution calling for more public hearings before the corridor is chosen.
Chipps wants to know before the public comment period ends Aug. 22 whether the lines are necessary.
Council member Ben Rudert said the meeting was meant to be informational, not a debate on the need for the project.
Rudert felt the council was not informed enough to sign any resolution and that Dairyland had not come prepared to prove the need for the project.
He also said Chipps misrepresented himself when he asked for Dairyland to attend the meeting.
“I think it’s a little unfair,” Rudert said.
La Crescent Mayor Mike Poellinger said he had told Chipps not to bring petitions or a resolution to the council.
In order to accept petitions, Poellinger said, the council must verify the signatures are from city residents, and it was not an expense the council wants to incur right now.
The resolution was another matter.
“I personally don’t feel comfortable voting on something we haven’t prepared,” Poellinger said.
Ruth Nissen, of La Crescent, said she hasn’t made up her mind about the project but came to the meeting for more information.
“I wanted to make my decision based on facts,” Nissen said. “That’s why I came tonight.”
Get involved
Until Aug. 22, public comments on the CapX2020 project can be sent to Minnesota Administrative Law Judge Beverly Heydinger at:
Office of Administrative Hearings
600 North Robert Street
P.O. Box 64620
St. Paul, MN 55164-0620
Or e-mail: capx.oah@state.mn.us
If you go
WHAT: Opponents of CapX2020 will hold a public forum on the possible environmental and health impacts of the power line project.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: La Crescent American Legion, 509 N. Chestnut St.
Ryan Stotts can be reached at (608) 791-8446 or ryan.stotts@lee.net.
