By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
There were a number of applause breaks during the Oct. 1 tri-county commission meeting between Barton, Russell, and Pawnee Counties regarding a proposed energy corridor that would impact all three counties. But few rounds of applause were as large as when Barton Commission Chair Barb Esfeld expressed to delegates appearing for elected representatives that those elected representatives should be present. The Barton County Commission discussed the Oct. 1 meeting during Tuesday's regular meeting, and Commissioner Donna Zimmerman seconded Esfeld's sentiments.
"I really just wish we could get our legislators to attend a meeting here locally," Zimmerman said. "I know you said that the other night at the meeting, and I think that's imperative. I wish they would come out and face the voters and have a discussion and answer questions."
Commissioner Tricia Schlessiger said it is up to local legislators to change state laws regarding public utility status and eminent domain, but the public also has a voice.
"I think the biggest thing now is everyone needs to remember you can still comment," she said. "You need to go to the [email protected]. (email address), and you need to send those comments in. That's where our joint letter went is we sent it there. The more times and the more people who comment there, the more the Department of Energy will hopefully listen."
Recent meetings have been held in Larned and Great Bend, and the Oct. 1 tri-county meeting in which local county officials could vote to take action, may have been the first of its kind. Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson said it's important to keep the momentum going.
"One thing I've learned, in my small time in small government anyway, is to strike while the iron is hot," he said. "If we can actually get this stopped, we have to keep our foot on the gas pedal. We have to get the KAC (Kansas Association of Counties) to suggest legislation and get that passed, get some rules changed with the KCC (Kansas Corporation Commission)."
At issue is how a private company like Invenergy, whose Grain Belt Express transmission line project has already been approved by the KCC, can be granted public utility status, get federal funding to assist in the project, and be granted eminent domain.
"Usually what happens is there's a utility that provides electricity directly to consumers in Kansas, like Evergy or somebody, and they obviously have transmission lines," said Barton County Counselor Patrick Hoffman. "For them to be able to do their projects, which again, provide power to people in Kansas, they have those rights and I think it's kind of a balance of that power. But because this is declared a utility but it's a utility that does not have Kansas consumers - the consumers are going to be out of state - that's what is unusual."
Area commissioners continue to work with groups like the KAC, Kansas Legislative Policy Group, and Kansas Natural Resource Coalition for remedies to the proposed national corridor.