MidAmerican reports turbine deliveries nearly complete; residents raise speeding and road damage concerns

A MidAmerican representative told the Page County Board of Supervisors that deliveries of wind-turbine components in Page County are nearly finished and that crews remain on site trenching for electrical cables and installing turbines.

"It looks like probably about two weeks left of delivering turbine components to the county," John Huff, a MidAmerican representative, said. He added that trenching for electrical cables and turbine installations are ongoing.

Board members and other meeting participants reported residents' complaints about heavy trucks using gravel roads. "I've had several calls, nothing formal complaints, just about speed and trucks kind of flying down gravel roads ... they would like them to slow down a little bit and pay attention, especially with school buses," a county participant said when relaying constituent concerns. Huff said he would relay the concerns to the contractor crews.

County Engineer JD King told the board that a contract crew had patched part of J52 after damage caused by turbine-related traffic and that MidAmerican will reimburse the county for that work. "We've had some folks, a contract outfit, doing some patching on J 52, part of the damage caused by the wind turbine folk, which will be reimbursed by them," King said.

Board members also discussed public safety around work zones. MidAmerican and county staff said they will reiterate speed and safety expectations with drivers working on the turbine project.

No formal enforcement action or new speed regulation was adopted at the meeting. MidAmerican's update indicated construction activities are weather-dependent; the representative asked the board to pass along any specific complaints so crews can address them.