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City: Huge Poles Not Welcome In Umatilla

City: Huge Poles Not Welcome In Umatilla

    “No way, no how, are you going to get near that airport.”
    Umatilla City Manager Aaron Mercer was clear this week that Duke Energy plans to upgrade its utility pole system in the Umatilla area won’t include large poles near downtown or near the Umatilla airport.
    Duke is planning a project that will run from DeLand along CR 42 to the Umatilla area, before snaking to a substation just north of Eustis.  Original drawings indicated the lines would run down CR 450NE and Skyline Drive just east of downtown and onto Rose Street before turning further south.
    Mercer stated it is his belief the poles to be installed are similar to the large units currently being set in downtown Eustis and made it clear that regulations and city preference will require such large poles to go further east, away from the city proper.
    Also, Mercer said the city had successfully opposed the large poles being installed at the south end of town during a recent Duke project along SR 19.
    “You can thank (former city manager) Scott Blankenship for that,” Mercer said.
    In addition to simply not wanting such large poles in the city, Mercer said airspace restrictions will preclude such construction from taking place near the airport, where tall poles and wires could pose safety threats to aircraft.
    Umatilla Mayor Chris Creech on Monday echoed the manager’s stance and said the city government would likely take whatever steps it could, even passing a resolution in opposition, to keep the poles out of the city.
    “My intent would be to keep those poles out of town,” he said, adding that he feels it would be a universal point of view among Umatillians that the poles would be better suited taking another route.
    Duke has scheduled a public input meeting for Thursday, May 29.  The gathering will take place at the First Baptist Church of Umatilla from 4:30 - 7 p.m. and will allow residents to provide input on the proposal. The First Baptist Church is located at 550 Hatfield Drive in Umatilla.