Alliant, Milton business owner clash over proposed expansion
If you go
What: Milton City Council meeting
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: City Hall, 430 E. High St.
Photo
MILTON — John Arndt is upset about an Alliant Energy plan to expand its substation near his business, but what makes him angriest is that he didn't know about it, he said.
"I would think that you would notify someone who is an adjacent property owner," he told city, Alliant and American Transmission Company officials Wednesday afternoon.
The deal between the city of Milton, Alliant and ATC to expand the substation appeared almost done April 21 when Arndt, owner of the nearby Milton Propane, and a residential neighbor, Kevin Shull, expressed concerns at a city council meeting.
Their concerns convinced the council to table the agreement. It will again take up the issue Tuesday.
Alliant and ATC have been planning a substation upgrade near High and Elm streets as part of the "Power Milton" project. The upgrade is necessary to maintain reliable service to Milton and prepare for future growth, officials have said.
The companies hoped to pay the city $55,000 for about 2 acres for the expansion. City staff recommended using the money to complete the adjacent dog park and for other park projects.
But Arndt wants part of that space for an 850-foot rail spur to transport product from his facility at 3992 E. Vincent St. To do that, he needs a 25-foot setback along 400 feet of the rail line northeast of his property.
That cuts into Alliant's plans. Arndt offered at the April 21 meeting to pay $56,000 on the spot for the land.
Arndt, Kevin Shull and his wife, Ginni, met with city, Alliant and ATC officials Wednesday to discuss their concerns before Tuesday's meeting.
The Shulls are worried about potential health effects from the expanded substation, which would come very close to their home. Ginni developed a chronic respiratory disease six years ago, and the Shulls believe an expanded substation could aggravate it.
When the Shulls moved into their home, the substation was just a tiny transformer, Kevin said. Now, there are two transformers, and they keep getting larger, he said.
"You can look at study after study that says it (living near an electrical station) isn't good for you," Kevin said. "I'm very concerned about anything that's going to affect (Ginni)."
Joan Kozisek, an environmental compliance project manager with ATC, said there's no solid proof that electromagnetic fields cause health problems.
"Research indicates that there may be a very weak association (between electromagnetic fields and health problems)," she said. "However, the association does not mean cause of any type of disease or illness. It's just an association."
Ardnt and the Shulls were upset they didn't receive notification about the plans moving forward. They were notified several times from 2004 to 2007 that Alliant hoped to buy the land, but they didn't receive notifications in 2008 or early 2009, Arndt said.
City Administrator Todd Schmidt said neighbors were notified when it was legally required to do so. He said the project was included in several agendas, monthly reports and news stories over the past year.
"City staff have been very transparent," he wrote in an e-mail to The Janesville Gazette.
Tom Chesmore, who was sworn in as mayor in April, said at Wednesday's meeting that the city hasn't been as open in the past as he would like. He promised that neighbors would be notified of any actions that impact them in the future.
"I don't believe in going full board with a project and not involving the people who are affected," he said.
He also promised Arndt would have the full support and any available resources of the city to find an alternative way to install his rail spur when the time comes.
But that might not be necessary.
Arndt said he still could put in a rail spur as planned if Alliant and ATC move the planned control house farther northeast.
Alliant and ATC officials said they would try to find out if that's possible before Tuesday's meeting but made no promises.
Chesmore said the Alliant project is needed to allow the city to grow.
"Alliant's concern is immediate," he said. "It's something that needs to be addressed right now."
May 3, 2009 at 7:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
naturespaces... nice to hear a different spin about someone, regardless of content. I obviously do not know him as well as you, however I think the city doesn't necessarily make it easy for local businesses to grow without hurdles to jump over.
Thanks for your comments.
May 2, 2009 at 10:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
John Arndt is a far cry from from an angel. His parents have done a lot for Milton. He rides on their shirttails. He knew about the Alliant expansion for years now. I remember talking to him back when they were ready to expand 5 yrs ago. My husband works with one of his employees that said he was working with the City to donate land to that park and never followed through. I know him, and my opinion of him is he is all ego. I have known his parents for years. The only ones rolling are Mary and Jerry. They have gone out of their way to make Milton a better place. Without the last name, John is nothing. John and I went to school together. He was nothing then, and he is nothing now. I like taking my pup there to play. I do not want to see Mr Arndt take any of the City of Milton land for his rail line. The dog area already is loosing land to Alliant. I did not donate money to the dog park so that it can be whittled down to nothing.
May 2, 2009 at 8:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
Hmmm... "...Todd Schmidt said neighbors were notified when it was legally required to do so."
Sheesh, Arndt is a "Milton household name", and you pull something like this? Wally Schilberg must be rolling over in his grave!
May 1, 2009 at 6:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
What Todd Schmidt and most of the council continually does not take into consideration is the difference in what is legal and what is right. Todd is nearly always legal, but nearly never right. Do the right thing for once.
May 1, 2009 at 5:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Mr Chesmore, Give Mr Ardnt what he would like. Come on, He has been a businessman and ardent supporter of Milton for years! And I would hope you hold true to your promise of "open government" rather than what the previous administration was. And to Mr Schmidt, You need to quit saying you gave everyone ample "warning" when you did not. Lighten up a bit. Yes, "Big power" needs to grow, But don't squash the little guy either.
May 1, 2009 at 4:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Let's try substituting "tobacco" for electric substation (which should have been used) in the quotation. There is a slight association between tobacco and lung cancer, but (even if we accept an association, this does not mean there's any causation. The point is that this sounds like obfuscation and a third-party expert should be interviewed instead of a "compliance" bureaucrat.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.