Would I have preferred that the power lines had been situated underground rather than placed upon 80-foot poles? The answer is yes, that is, if I did not have to bear any of the financial responsibility for it.
I respect the rights of those individuals or organizations that are now trying to get these lines buried and the poles removed. If they have not already done so, I hope they will now be making a very strong point of advising the community that this work may have the potential to be costly to homeowners, businesses and renters, if funding from sources other than Port Washington residents has not been found, as I understand it.
If this community will have to bear the financial burden, much or any of this burden for the removal of poles, the installation of underground wiring, and perhaps maintenance issues now and in the future, how do we know that the costs will not be substantial, and I mean very substantial?
What if this project ends up costing PSEG tens of millions of dollars for example and we become responsible for paying all or any part this bill? Do all homeowners, businesses and renters really want to take on any new financial burden in order to achieve the underground placement of electrical wires?
Perhaps there are many residents and business owners that would rather live with the gigantic storm resistant poles than to possibly have any new and perhaps significant financial burden placed upon them by burying them.
If we end up having to live with 80-foot poles in our community, and they are our worst problem, then we are very lucky.
—Sherrill Robinson
