The Brown County commissioners discussed a press release by Kansas Senator Jerry Moran about opposing the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) line and also discussing the Brown County map. Commissioner Richard Lehmkuhl was present during the meeting via Zoom video call. Commissioner Lamar Shoemaker brought up the subject of Senator Moran contesting the NIETC proposal and that there would be legislation created to go against the proposal, with the legislation involving banning federal funds to stop the line from going through private property. “The decision will be up to Kansas, not Washington,” Shoemaker said. Pollock asked if there was a moratorium regarding the NIETC line, with Shoemaker stating that a letter would be sent. Hill said that a letter or resolution of support could be done, and that a copy of either could be drafted and reviewed. Lehmkuhl also agreed that a resolution was needed to help give landowners a fighting chance in court against the NIETC line and even said there was a resolution from another county that they could look off and reference from. The next topic was about the land use map. Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill expressed puzzlement why Dick Horton Consulting was having trouble with the Brown County map and that more exploration was needed with the comprehensive plan. Lehmkuhl pointed out that there were volunteers in the Brown County Planning Commission involved in the map planning and said, “I think we already wasted more than $500 dollars talking about it every week and sending things back and forth. Those people come and volunteer their time for free. I think we need to get this accomplished.” Hill argued that the county did not waste any time as this issue as brought to Dick Horton himself three months ago. “The time wasting is not on the county, it’s on them,” Hill said. “I understand what’s everybody’s saying,” Lehmkuhl replied. “I’m just saying for a $35,000 project, we’re here holding up $500 for several weeks and we need to move forward so we can get our comprehensive plan doing. That’s all I have to say.” Hill argued again that the dilemma with the map was reflective of Horton, not on the Planning Commission and that Horton was working for the Planning Commission; he recommended using the map KDOT had and submit that map with towns missing written in. Shoemaker said that the Planning Commission needs to send a letter in written format to follow up and state that they were not using Dick Horton Consulting’s map. The next Brown County meeting will take place on Aug. 30 and it will involve the final decision on the budget for Brown County.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
