Committee, council approve lot split, substation plans

— Planning and zoning committee members voted on Thursday to recommend plans for a new Empire Electric substation to the city council and took up a lot-split The committee voted to recommend a lot split for Angie Laney, allowing her to divide her property, near the intersection of Arkansas Highway 59 and Jerry Street, into two lots.

The city council also approved Laney’s request and the substation plans at Monday’s meeting.

Councilman and committee chairman Trip Lapham said Laney wanted to split the property so she could rent it separately.

Lapham told the council that Empire Electric plans to level Everette Berry’s former church building by December, and by January or February begin flattening the land to build a new substation.

The new substation will have a larger capacity and be more reliable, Lapham said. Empire Electric will also be able to control the substation remotely from Joplin. “We’ll have better power and more room for growth,” he said.

News, Pages 8 on 09/15/2010