Overhead power lines may go underground

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake City Council discussed placing overhead power lines underground in the downtown alleyways during a Friday afternoon retreat.

Citizen and former councilmember Lee Blackwell owns a building downtown and is waiting to get his utilities placed underground but says there was little support offered from the city and the Grant County Public Utility District commissioners in the past. He said he questioned the commitment of the city and the PUD.

Moses Lake Business Association Executive Director Sally Goodwin said the past winter revealed the condition of the alleyways.

She said city crews are unable to plow the snow from the alleyways leaving several vehicles stuck. Goodwin said there are deep ruts in the ground the city failed to repair.

Vision 2020 representative Ralph Kincaid said the alleyways look bad and overhead power lines add to the clutter of power poles. He said Destination Development recommended improving the alleys as part of the branding plan.

Kincaid said cleanup can lead to pedestrian safety, reverse store fronts and pocket parks.

We all agree that they're ugly, it's uncomfortable, it's awkward, said David Plate, Vision 2020 community development chair, about the overhead power lines in the alleyways.

He said it costs $5,000 per business to connect to power once the lines are placed underground. The cost to place the utilities underground is unknown.

Kincaid said the alleys can't look nice without undergrounding the utilities.

Councilmember Brent Reese asked if the PUD is required to help fund the project if the city moved forward with the effort.

Mayor Ron Covey said in the past PUD commissioners said they would support the project but would not pay for it because they didn't have the funds.

PUD Commissioner Bob Bernd said he hopes city staff and PUD staff will work together to come up with a cost to place the utilities underground.

The city might have to help out the PUD a little bit, he said.

PUD Commissioner Terry Brewer said he hopes to work with the city for the project and says it's important for the downtown core to be improved.

He said neither the city nor the PUD should be responsible for the entire cost of the project and is looking for a compromise.

Councilmember Richard Pearce said he's not sure it's legal for the city to participate in the cost and doesn't want to set a precedent so other cities in the state are expected to help fund underground utility projects.

Brewer asked the city not to require the PUD to put the street back together, rather, provide the right of way to install the underground utilities.

Pearce suggested the business owners provide the space for installation and the $5,000 connection fee, the PUD install the lines underground and the city rebuild the roadway.

Kincaid said cable and phone companies should be required to partially fund the project.

Blackwell questioned how the process will begin.

Covey said Vision 2020 and the business association will spearhead the effort.

In the meantime the alleyways will stay the same way they are forever and ever, Blackwell said.

Covey said a committee needs to be put together first before underground efforts begin.

Councilmember Bill Ecret said the city owes it to the citizens and property owners to have safe and functional alleyways. He suggested making some repairs in the meantime. Ecret asked city staff to survey the alleyways to find a temporary fix.