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upset about the danger to her newborn baby when she found out that a 138,000 -volt transmission line would be installed that close to her home. Mr. Smith noted that Vero Beach Utilities did come out to a meeting at the Timber Ridge community center, but they really didn't give them any information except to say that the City had entered into a deal with the water control district for the placement of these poles on their easement. No one was there from the water control district. About a week after the controversy was reported in the newspaper, a representative from the IRFWCD paid them a visit and explained that someday the district might want to widen the canal and perhaps put a road on the easement. Apparently, Vero Beach Utilities will pay $600 a mile for the use of the canal easement. In the placement of these poles, they have destroyed a beautiful stand of trees and it has become an eyesore. Mr. Smith emphasized that another concern is the decrease in property values, and he felt certain the residents will want their properties reassessed. Polly Schwey, real estate agent and long-time resident on 33rd Avenue, advised that she and a couple of colleagues studied two areas in St. Lucie County where home values had decreased because of high voltage lines being installed. They found that assessments of homes in these areas were lowered from ten to twenty percent. She assured the Commission that the Tax Appraiser will be lowering the assessments on homes in this area if this line goes through. Mrs. Schwey advised that after hearing about the installation of this line, she and some others met with the Ft. Pierce Utility Authority and the St. Lucie County Road Department, who owns the narrow 46 -ft. wide road that they want to go down. That meeting took place one week ago and they got a gentleman's agreement that Black and Veech would be going back to the drawing board to study Emerson Avenue where they already have a lot of lines and the drainage district easement on the other side of the road which is approximately 90 -ft. wide. This was accomplished at a meeting where people were willing to listen. People from Vero Beach were very pleased to f ind someone to listen to them. A man with the first name of Michael from Black & Veech was there and agreed that they would come back with a study on alternate routes. Mrs. Schwey understood that Old Dixie was the first route that was studied and Vero Beach gave that up because it was cheaper to put the line along the drainage easement. Carol Bresnaham, 25th Street SW, was concerned about the effect this line would have on the health of her young child. she advised that tests done since 1989 have revealed a definite link 21 U L - 61993 BOOK U'. 89 977