Duke has presented us with three unacceptable options for the route:
Route 1 – East side of Rohrer Road
- This route would cut down a 30′ wide strip of trees on the east side of Rohrer road, including some trees in people’s yards, inside their own fences. These trees are the only source of shade for these houses, and the homeowners would not be allowed to replace the trees after installation of the poles.
- This route would not replace the existing poles on the west side of the road. Instead, it would add additional poles, so there would be poles down both sides of Rohrer Road.
- The wooden poles on the west side of the street would be the small ones. The giant metal poles they would put on the east side of the street would be 5-10 feet taller than the wooden ones.
Route 2 – East side of the Monon trail, from the substation to US31, and then along US31
- This route would cut down a 30′ wide strip of trees on the east side of the Monon, from a little south of the Rohrer Road trailhead to the underpass at US 31, destroying the natural peace and beauty of the Monon trail.
- These trees block noise and provide shade and privacy to the homeowners whose property borders that side of the Monon. The homeowners would not be allowed to replace the trees.
- This route turns off the Monon to follow US31. Cutting down trees on this route will make the noise from US31 even more of a problem.
Route 3 – West side of the Monon trail, from the substation to US31, and then along US31
- This route would cut down a 30′ wide strip of trees on the east side of the Monon, from a little south of the Rohrer Road trailhead to the underpass at US 31, then turn to follow US31. Like plan 2, this will destroy the natural beauty of the Monon and make the noise from US31 even worse.
- Since there is a lake on this path, the line would need to span it. That means extra-tall poles would be put on each end of the lake. The beautiful cottonwood tree that’s stood there for hundreds of years would be replaced with a dangerous high-voltage line suspended over water.
- Not only would the privacy, shade, and beauty of the trees be lost, but the view of the lake, which currently increases the property value of the houses that surrounded it, would be ruined.