(Spirit Lake)– The General Manager of a local electric utility is calling for tougher provisions in granting permits to companies that move buildings.
Terry Bruns is the General Manager of Estherville-based Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative. He wants counties in the ILEC service territory to require building movers to inform local utilities prior to a move taking place. That way, Bruns says, crews can assist in raising any low-hanging lines.
Bruns says there have been no incidents so far in which a building mover has knocked down lines. But he says the liability of such an incident would be huge.
Bruns sited an incident recently in which a building in Spirit Lake was moved to LeMars and ILEC wasn’t contacted.
Bruns says a bill will be introduced in the upcoming Iowa legislative session that would hold anyone coming within a foot of a power line responsible for any damage. In the meantime, he’s asking area counties to tighten their permitting process.
