Decision delayed on condemnation proceedings along proposed power line route

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District commissioners will delay a decision on beginning condemnation proceedings for property along the route of a projected power line between Wanapum Dam and Quincy for six weeks. Commissioners voted to table a resolution that would’ve started the condemnation proceedings at the April 8 meeting, following testimony from residents along the proposed route. 

John Rylaarsdam, one of the property owners, said in a later interview he told commissioners that from his perspective, the selection process was flawed and there have been additional problems with the process since. 

“My main frustration is the fact that they have other options, and they’re unwilling to look at those. That’s extremely frustrating for me,” he said. 

The new line, known as Route 4b, will provide additional power from the dam to customers in the Quincy area, and PUD planners evaluated a number of options during the selection process about two years ago. The route chosen crosses land that’s mostly in crop production between Frenchman Hills Road and George.  

The PUD is in negotiations with property owners along the route for easements for the power lines and access to them. Utility district employees requested permission from commissioners to start condemnation proceedings for properties where landowners have refused access to determine where poles might be placed. 

Commission Chair Terry Pyle said commissioners don’t want to vote on a condemnation resolution, according to a PUD press release on the meeting. The vote originally was scheduled for late April. The six-week delay will push it to May 27. 

Rylaarsdam said he thought he and his neighbors received inadequate notice about the selection process. 

“There were four choices then, and 4b wasn’t even an original choice,” he said. “That was kind of an add-on (to the original options), and they made that decision very late in the game. We were all unaware of it until after they had already made the decision.” 

In a letter issued in February, commissioners said the PUD had provided what they considered adequate notice throughout the selection process.

The easements will take about 4.4 acres of his property, Rylaarsdam said, and the PUD offer is about $20,400. Rylaarsdam said PUD policy limits the payment to about 20-25% of the property value for an easement. He thought that was inadequate, he said, given the terms of the proposed easement. 

“Also, in their documentation in the contract, it frees them from any indemnification. If something happens there, they’re indemnified from it,” he said.  

In their February letter, commissioners said the PUD is willing to work with landowners to reduce the intrusion as much as possible. Pyle said during the meeting that it’s difficult to proceed until PUD officials have the information they need to determine the actual placement of power poles, which requires access to the proposed route. 

“Without understanding where the poles go, we have nothing to talk about,” he said. “It’s not going to do us any good to negotiate an easement without having an idea where those poles are.” 

Commissioners will talk about the power line and the options at a workshop at 1 p.m. May 20 at the PUD headquarters, 30 C St. SW, Ephrata.