Utility Pole Project Coming To Umatilla

    Duke Energy has informed the City of Umatilla it intends to replace a series of wooden power poles along SR 19 just south of town, and the city is hoping to ensure the planned metal poles fit the current look of the area.
   “They sent me a pole change map but no pictures yet,” said Umatilla City Manager Scott Blankenship early this week.
   Blankenship said the city is working to make sure the poles that are being installed in and around downtown Eustis don’t come to Umatilla. Those poles, which are much taller, have been the subject of many complaints as they have snaked their way through downtown.
   “What we don’t want are those hideous poles that come through Eustis,” Blankenship said.
   On Tuesday afternoon, Blankenship updated the situation and said he had heard from representatives from Duke stating that the new poles would be similar to other metal poles in the area, which are shorter than the ones being installed in Eustis.