Gillespie County Commissioners adopted a resolution opposing the development of transmission line routes other than the approved Public Utility Commission (PUC) plan Monday morning during their regular meeting.

Al Weinzierl, steering committee member for an informal group of Harper citizens opposed to the construction of private transmission lines, presented the resolution to the court.

Landowners in Harper were first contacted in late July by Hilliard Energy, a Midland-based company trying to negotiate 180-foot land easements on behalf of Florida Power and Light (FPL) Energy for a private transmission line separate from the approved PUC line.

Plans for the PUC-approved line continue to move forward as Lone Star Transmission, LLC -- a second FPL Energy subsidiary -- submitted a proposal in September to build part of the state-mandated line through the Hill Country.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Billy Roeder, who said he may be approached by Hilliard for a land easement, noted Monday that PUC director Jess Totten told Harper residents that the PUC-approved line would be capable of handling the electricity generated from wind farms in Upton County.

The potential private line could bring electricity from wind farms owned by FPL Energy near Abilene.

"We don't need three different lines coming all over when the line that Public Utilities supports is enough to bring the electricity down," Roeder said.

The commissioner also noted that the PUC is the lone group bound by environmental regulations when building their lines.

"It just seems strange to me that the PUC has regulations and other people do not," Commissioner Donnie Schuch said.

"That doesn't seem right. It doesn't make any sense to me," he added.

In other business Monday, the court:

• Approved the purchase of a hand-held radio for an investigator in the County Attorney's office for approximately $2,500.
• Approved a preliminary plat on Eagles Crest subdivision in Precinct 2.
• Set the date of the County Awards Banquet for Dec. 2 at the American Legion Hall.
• Approved AC compressor oil change and maintenance service at the Gillespie County Courthouse for up to $2,000.
• Approved the hiring of Katie Weed as a dispatcher at the Gillespie County Law Enforcement Building effective Nov. 17.
• Approved the purchase of a heavy duty floor buffer for the Gillespie County Jail for $918.

The next commissioners' court meeting was scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 24.

The meeting, set for the county commissioners' courtroom in the courthouse, will be open to the public.