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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Council Meeting Minutes <br />June 10, 1986 <br /> <br />Public Hearings, continued <br /> <br />as well as alternatives available (a decision to stay overhead <br />would cost $10,000 to relocate poles and lines, or slimline <br />construction for $10,000). <br /> <br />In response to Benke's question of the location of the lines, <br />Pritchard stated NSP works with the County and asks for room in <br />the boulevard and would put underground system along east side. <br /> <br />In response to Benke's question, Pritchard indicated the lines <br />would be five feet away from the curb line. <br /> <br />Schmidt asked if newly platted developments have underground <br />utilities; Pritchard indicated almost all new installations are <br />underground, even the main feeder routes, as it is economical to <br />do it that way; and in existing neighborhoods, it is five times <br />as high in cost. <br /> <br />Schmidt stated if the lines are installed on the east side of <br />Long Lake Road, there would be no impediment as the sidewalks <br />would be constructed on the west side of the road. <br /> <br />Brandt asked if it would be possible to install the underground <br />utilities in the space between the curb and the sidewalk; <br />Pritchard indicated they could be, but needs locations for two <br />larges boxes to switch services in the event of power failure. <br /> <br />Schmidt asked how those sites are selected; Pritchard stated <br />cable lengths determine their locations, although NSP tries to <br />install them in parking lots, school property, boulevard <br />property, etc. <br /> <br />Benke questioned safety problems with the boxes; Pritchard <br />stated they are well-constructed for safety purposes. <br /> <br />Gunderman questioned the current underground failure rate versus <br />overhead failure rates; Pritchard indicated new underground cable <br />has no failure for ten or fifteen years, and then at the rate of <br />five or six failures per 100 miles of cable, and stated the <br />overhead failure was hard to compare because of trees, storms, <br />etc. <br /> <br />Gunderman asked if underground would have fewer service inter- <br />ruptions than overhead; Pritchard stated a new underground <br />system was more reliable, but as the system gets older, there <br />are higher failure rates. <br /> <br />Schmidt acknowledged Pritchard's earlier statement about NSP's <br />cost containment, and noted that kilowatt charges throughout the <br />nation were much higher than this area. <br /> <br />Page Twelve <br />