Ameren power's plan to string high voltage lines along the Fox River, has spurred a group of residents in the Dayton area to form an opposition group — the Fox River Alliance.

"They (Ameren) have shown little regard for the effects this will have on the families living in the area, the wildlife in this wonderful natural habitat and the safe operation of businesses along the route," said Kirk Smith, of Dayton.

Smith has set up a Web site — www.foxriveralliance.org — that lays out his worries, which are shared by others, including Kale Close.

Close said he has done tree clearing work for ComEd and from his experience, a swath of trees will have to be removed to make way for the Ameren lines. The owners of the Skydive Chicago airport just north of Dayton and near the Fox River, are also concerned the lines will hamper parachutists.

"Any parachutist using the facilities at Ottawa Airport could find himself in the position of having to make a decision whether to land in the wires (138,000 volts) or landing in the Fox River," wrote Fred Morelli Jr., the Aurora attorney representing Skydive Chicago, in an April 29 letter to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Ameren sent letters in April to landowners whose properties are in the path of the lines, to arrange meetings to negotiate the purchase of easements and other land rights. If a purchase agreement cannot be reached, Ameren could go to court to use the power of eminent domain to force the sale of land.

In another letter Morelli sent to residents along the path, he recommended that if Ameren contacts anyone about their property, they should tell Ameren they belong to the Fox River Alliance and are represented by attorneys, giving Morelli's name or that of his colleague, Dana Kurtz, and they are not interested in selling an easement.

The Illinois Commerce Commission gave permission to Ameren to erect two sets of lines — one from La Salle to Wedron, and the other from Ottawa to Wedron. Morelli asked the ICC to have another hearing on the matter, but the ICC refused his request May 20.

In defending the route that will travel along the Fox River, Ameren spokesman Leigh Morris noted the ICC did grant approval.

"Trees and power lines don't mix. It's impossible to build lines without impacting trees," Morris said. "We work very hard to minimize the impact, but it's no different if you're building or widening a road, some trees have to come down."

Morris does not know approximately how many trees will be affected, but did say the impact will be kept to a minimum. He noted the National Arbor Foundation has recognized Ameren for having high standards in its approach to trees, with the company donating money every year to communities for trees.

Morris did say two houses will be in the way and likely will be bought by Ameren. He noted lines cannot hang over structures and trees cannot be below them.

"You can't put a line anywhere you want to. You must be able to get to them with relative ease. Sometimes options for lines are limited. You need accessibility."

As far as Skydive Chicago, Morris acknowledged lines can't interfere with flight paths and said Ameren will comply with all Federal Aviation Administration rules. An environmental impact study has almost been completed, not being done sooner because the ICC relatively recently approved the power line project.

Morris said erection of the towers and lines should begin next year, taking two years to finish.

As for Smith, he said Ameren originally opposed the route along the river because it was costly, affected the most people and had the most visual and environmental impact. Smith added he doesn't expect smooth times ahead in reminding Ameren of this.

"I'll see what my legal options are. It's probably not pleasant."

Smith also noted he has a photo of one of the trees in his yard that is likely to fall to an Ameren chainsaw. The photo shows the tree as a sapling in 1906.