Resident asks Erath County to explore Chapter 391 subregional planning commission for proposed transmission lines

Joanna Friebel addressed the Erath County Commissioners Court during public comments on July 28 to request that the court consider placing an agenda item under new business to discuss forming a Chapter 391 subregional planning commission to address proposed transmission lines passing through the region.

"The 391 commission is a subregional planning commission. It can be either within the county or with another county, the county municipality," Friebel told the court, adding that a subregional body could help the county address multiple route proposals and represent the community before developers and at the Public Utility Commission (PUC) process. Friebel said five or six preliminary transmission-line routes were being considered and that a subregional planning commission could coordinate the county's response.

Commissioners discussed the request during new business and said they and staff have been researching Chapter 391 options and speaking with neighboring officials. One commissioner said Comanche County and other local jurisdictions had gathered information and that the court would continue information gathering and consider whether another municipality would join a subregional commission. The court did not take formal action at the meeting but signaled it would continue discussing the topic and asked commissioners to review materials before further consideration.

Next steps: court members asked staff and commissioners to continue research and to bring the issue back for further discussion at a future meeting if needed.