February 7, 2005 | NORTH LOGAN — North Logan seems to be quickly losing options in a fight against Utah Power & Light. In the City Council meeting Thursday, Mayor Val Potter invited Scott Wyatt, attorney and state representative, to discuss alternatives to the proposed installation of the 138,000-volt overhead power line that will cost $1.3 million for a two-mile distance.

Utah Power & Light has requested a permit to establish the power line somewhere between 1800 and 2200 North and 200 and 400 East. Although other locations have been discussed, Steve Rush of Utah Power said, “We’ve made the appropriate decision.”

Wyatt seemed in agreement with Rush. “Any other path may impact fewer homes, but it would still impact some homes,” he said.

Wyatt explained that if the city council chose to deny Utah Power the permit, one of two things could happen. First, Utah Power could take their lines in another direction and send North Logan a bill for the difference. The more likely option, Wyatt says, is that “they’d just file a lawsuit,” a lawsuit that could easily take one-and-a-half years or more.

Although this may buy time for citizens of North Logan to form an appeal of some sort, chances are very slim that North Logan would win, Wyatt said. “The odds are that we would lose. Their position would be that this is a necessary service.”

If the council approved the permit, Utah Power would aim to have the power line installed by June.

Councilwoman Elaine Nelson was opposed to the idea, and seemed keen on giving the citizens of North Logan a chance to write an appeal. “To be fair to our residents,” she said, “should they not have a voice?”

However, Wyatt said an appeal would probably not work based on the fact that Utah Power has not broken any laws in their plans for the power line.

When it came time to vote on the permit, three council members voted in favor of the permit, and one voted against it.

Councilman Lloyd Berentzen said, “I feel like we’re being put into a corner and have no other alternatives.”