Lyon County Commissioners have approved a conditional use permit for a facility that will play a small part in a larger plan for Evergy in the near future.
The Agriculture CUP is related to a new 14-acre utility maintenance yard in the 1600 block of Road 200 across from the Evergy power station, which will house transmission components and steel pole structures, according to Evergy Transmission Construction and Maintenance Supervisor Nick Krueger. While speaking with KVOE News Thursday, Krueger stated the steel structures are being used as part of a push by Evergy in recent years to convert traditional wooden poles located in high fire danger areas to steel.
When asked the cost of the changeover in materials, Krueger couldn’t put an exact dollar amount on the initiative; however, he says the cost differential between steel and wood is there, but it’s minimal. He adds that when it comes to the steel poles, you’re getting “more bang for your buck” and more certainty on the lifespan of the structure, as there are fewer uncontrollable factors that can increase the rate of deterioration for a steel pole versus a wooden pole.
While the change in materials is primarily related to fire mitigation, Krueger says the steel poles will also be more reliable in severe storm scenarios.
According to Krueger, the push for changing the poles is solely for the high fire danger areas at this time and only for the transmission side of operations, not the distribution side. That said, he tells KVOE News that a complete changeover district-wide “Way down the road” is not out of the question.
A timeline for and exact price for constructing the utility maintenance yard is not readily available.
In other business Thursday, commissioners approved a quote from Quick Lube for replacing a transmission on an LCAT van for just over $6,700. Two requests from Lyon County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield, the purchase of six grader tires from Mel’s Tire totaling more than $7,300 to be paid for from the county’s Road and Bridge fund and a road upgrade and application process request, both gained unanimous commission approval.
County commissioners will reconvene for their regular action meeting next Thursday at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
