Luke Ellis was invited to speak at the Hill Country Alliance Workshop in Fredericksburg, Texas on September 6, 2014. The Workshop was planned for all potentially impacted landowners by the proposed substation and transmission line planned for the Blumenthal area, including Gillespie, Kendall, and Blanco Counties. The objective was to help property owners understand their rights and responsibilities in the routing process. Mr. Ellis who discussed the phases of the condemnation process and how landowners can prepare in advance for those proceedings.

Luke presented issues to be considered with transmission line easements including structure types, authorized activities within and outside of the easement, negative aesthetics and electro-magnetic fields. Luke also discussed the different valuation methodologies associated with transmission line easement takings including significant remainder damages often caused by high voltage power lines. Luke concluded by explaining the basic condemnation process, which includes an administrative phase prior to the litigation phase. Please contact Brenda or Bayly for a copy of Luke’s presentation (512.215.4078).

Lance Wenmohs (Manager of Siting and Certification for the Lower Colorado River Authority) participated in the Workshop by providing an update on the LCRA TSC’s application. Katherine Romans (Landowner Outreach Program Manager for the Hill Country Alliance) was the moderator.