Member Profiles

Knobloch's Receive New Electrical Service
By Meagan Seele

Todd and Brenda Knobloch of rural Cresco have recently experienced the process of getting a new service from the REC. Todd made the call early this spring to Hawkeye and talked with Marlyn Ohloff, Hawkeye's staking engineer. The Knobloch's and Marlyn met shortly after that at the future site of their new home near Kendallville. Together they looked at the different options of where the power lines would work most effectively and efficiently.

The first step that Hawkeye had to do before starting the project was contacting the Iowa Department of Transportation to confirm crossing State Highway 139 and Iowa One Call to ensure not running into any other underground utilities, water or gas lines. At this time adjoining neighbors were contacted to make sure the new line was not going to interfere with any existing structures.

All the plans and paperwork were finalized in June and the construction was completed during the month of July. Some of the construction was delayed during this time due to weather conditions and also due to the rocky terrain of certain sections.

"This process was straightforward right from the beginning," Brenda explains with a smile. "Roger Halverson gave us a timeline. We knew which days the poles would be set, the transformer box would be installed, the underground wires trenched and the wires strung between poles, and when we would have power. He was also very accurate about how long each would take!"

Both Brenda & Todd agree that the most interesting aspect of this project was watching the yellow REC trucks and the different jobs that each linemen was responsible for completing. They also realized just how much coordination and cooperation it takes between the member and the REC crews to get the job done.

After this project was completed in July, the Knobloch's now look forward to moving into their new house. Todd & Brenda Knobloch with children Natalie and Nick anxiously wait for the completion of their new home near Kendallville.