Jack Roush of Scott Depot has had a 765kv line on his property for years.  He says he has no problem with it and has had a good relationship with AEP.

Farmer Jack Roush from Putnam County acquired his spread of 112 acres near Scott Depot in 1991.  Therefore, he had no say when a 765 kilovolt line was strung through the back side of his farm in the 1960s.

But, even if he did, it's likely Roush would have had no problem with it.

"Whoever kicks about it, cut their power off and I say the next day they'd be willing to negotiate,"  Roush said standing under the crackling lines in his pasture field.  "That's just like a road going through or a railroad going through you property.  You ain't got no say so, just live with it."

Roush maintains the land in the power line right of way.  He says he rarely sees anybody from the power company and has no problems with the line's presence.  He uses the right of way to graze his cattle.

Recently, AEP approached Roush about a second 138 kilovolt line they wanted to install in a right of way parallel to the 765 kilovolt line.  Roush was okay with the plan.

"They just asked for permission to go through and what size acreage it was going to take,"  said Roush.  "They paid accordingly."

Roush also has a gas line that runs through the property that's been in place for many years. 

He admits all of the public utility access and easement probably would hurt the value of his property if it were ever sized up by a developer, but for somebody wanting the property as farm land, the price remains relatively normal.