Officials, residents say Butler was poorly notified of proposed 765 kV study segments; utility promises better outreach

Local officials and residents at a public information meeting in Butler on the proposed 765 kV transmission study segments said many people received little or no advance notice, and they pressed the utility to improve outreach.

"We received the postcard for the meeting in Sedan County the day of the meeting," said Will Howard, a Subbank County commissioner, describing calls from constituents who learned about the project only weeks earlier. Multiple municipal officials and residents reported postcards or letters arriving late or not at all.

An I&M representative apologized and pledged changes. "We did not do enough to support all of you in this process to then support your residents," the representative said, and committed to sharing materials and talking points with elected officials before mailings so officials are not surprised by constituent calls.

The utility also said it extended the public comment period to give people more time to review maps and attend open houses. Organizers collected email addresses at the meeting and promised follow-up materials, a list of contacts and invitations to additional town‑hall sessions targeted to farmers and other affected groups.

Why it matters: Residents and local leaders said notification failures reduced time to secure technical help (appraisers, attorneys or agricultural consultants) and made it harder to give informed comment on route options and property impacts. The utility said it will provide clearer, earlier notice and direct outreach to landowners on proposed line corridors.