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Farmer hopes to block power lines By Leah Fillion Normans Crossing in one of several proposed routes Isaac “Jock” Norman hopes to preserve the farming tradition his grandfather began when he founded Normans Crossing in the 1890's, but the possibility of a 345-kilovolt power line landing directly in the center of his land could end the tradition abruptly. The small community is near the intersection of FM 1660 and FM 3449. M.B “Mart” Norman came to the area in 1873 and rented land to farm. Eight years later, he had made enough to begin purchasing land. In 1892 he built a gin, the first business in the community. Eventually, M.B. Norman established a school, a general store, was a steward of the Methodist church and served as the center of the community's institutions. Currently, the property - designated a Heritage Farm in 2006 - is a historic landmark in continuous agricultural operation within the same family for at least a century. But as growth continues to move into the area, two electricity providers, Oncor Electric Delivery Co. and the Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corp., are seeking to build the power line in Bell and Williamson counties to meet the increased demand for electric power. Oncor's portion of the line would connect the Oncor Electric Delivery Switching Station, located north of Salado in Bell County, to the Hutto Switching Station, located northwest of the City of Hutto. Lisa Umscheid, spokesperson for LCRA, said the preferred LCRA Route 24 is about 85 miles long and follows SH 130 for roughly 20 miles. This route has the fewest habitable structures and has been estimated to cost $152 and $223 million, she said. The Public Utility Commission of Texas has not yet approved the proposed route and is currently in the process of assessing 24 alternative routes for the line. Norman filed as an intervener based on proposed Route 23's Segment 74, which would cross into his farm. Norman said the proposed Segment 74 would diminish the value of the residence and the history of the community. Packets were sent to 2,145 landowners within 500 feet of the 24 possible routes. They included information about the routes and how to participate in the PUC proceeding for those that wanted to intervene. Though Norman feels the chances of the PUC choosing his land for the project is slim because of the properties historical importance, his time and money spent is significant. “It is a costly and cumbersome ordeal to defend your property,” Roy Lessner, Norman's son-in-law who also owns property potentially affected by the line, said. Norman said each time he has to send a letter to the LCRA regarding the intervening process, he has to send a copy to almost 150 interveners in the area. Postage alone has cost him over $500 since the process began. Norman stacks each letter he receives in a pile now towering nearly three feet high in his room, awaiting the letter that will determine whether his land will be chosen for construction of the electrical towers. Currently, PUC is still under negotiation to determine which route is preferred and no decision has been made.
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