Westar Energy wants to build a new power line across property owned by Arkansas City and the city wants to expand its hike-bike trail. Both parties hope to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement.
The City Commission listened to a report from City Manager Nick Hernandez during its regular meeting Tuesday that included preliminary talks about the deal.
Hernandez said Westar plans to rework its Paris Park substation. As part of that project, the company also wants to run a high-transmission line from the substation to KanPak and then on to ADM Milling, at 1200 S. Mill Road.
“We own all of the right-of-way that they will need,” Hernandez said. “Every last bit of it.”
Hernandez said he has been in negotiation with Westar to work out a trade that would lead to Westar providing funding to help expand the trail from its current end point to the Hafner Training Center.
“The cost estimate is $538,000, which includes a crossing on Madison,” he said. “We’ve thrown some numbers out there. We haven’t received any no’s yet.”
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)