Fredonia, Wi – Fredonia homeowner Jerry Zelenka has received another notice from American Transmission Co. (ATC) regarding a proposed power line that would cross his property as part of a project to provide electricity to the planned data center in Port Washington, WI.
Zelenka said the latest proposal is different from the route previously considered. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin previously ruled that ATC’s application was incomplete, according to Zelenka, forcing the company to start over.
“They threw their application out the window. So, they had to start over,” Zelenka said. “Now they’ve applied a new application with new plans and new ideas with the new routes.”
Under the current proposal, Zelenka said his property is now on what he considers the permanent route.
The proposed transmission line would dramatically change the property, according to Zelenka. He said the plans call for extensive clearing of trees and vegetation, removal of several outbuildings and construction of a 130-foot transmission tower near his driveway.
“The point is that everything from that fence all the way to the road is clear-cut,” Zelenka said. “And after they clear-cut it, then they want to spray herbicide and just kill everything between my house and the highway.”
Click HERE for the ATC power line proposal
Zelenka said the trees that would be removed include, “Cedars, oak, ash, elm, black walnut is all gone. It’s all gone,” he said.
He said the proposed route would also result in the removal of a shed, chicken coop, hog barn, barn, garage and machine shed.
According to Zelenka, ATC has offered $81,000 in compensation for the buildings and property impacts. He said ATC is also offering an additional $50,000 one-time payment if he signs an agreement now.
“You know, the bribe in a sense is that if I were to sign up now, they’re offering $50,000 more,” Zelenka said.
Zelenka said the proposal would leave his home standing while removing much of the property’s existing infrastructure and trees.
“My house is right there. The only thing that’s left standing is the house,” he said.
He questions how the property could retain its value with a 130-foot tower and high-voltage lines near the home.
“What is this property going to be worth with none of these buildings, towers in the front yard, and just a house standing there?” Zelenka said.
At 75, Zelenka said rebuilding or relocating is not realistic. He said his wife is 73 and has advanced Parkinson’s disease.
“I don’t have the option of really, I can’t move the house,” he said. “You can’t build anything in front of it. You’d be exposed to the highway, which is busy and noisy enough to begin with, and all you’re left with is the house.”
Zelenka said the proposed compensation would not allow him to replace the buildings or adequately address the loss in property value.
“I don’t know who thinks I can replace all of these buildings for $81,000, but I got news for you…. it’s not financially possible,” he said.
Zelenka also objects to the possibility of ATC using eminent domain if property owners do not agree to the proposed terms.
“If they decide they’re going to go this way, they can file for eminent domain, they’ll condemn the property, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” Zelenka said. “Then they’ll make an offer for whatever they feel is acceptable, and my only option at that point is I can fight them in court for a higher value, but I can’t stop the land seizure.”
Zelenka said that issue is already being challenged in federal court by two neighboring property owners who are attorneys.
“Eminent domain only applies for the public good,” Zelenka said. “This only benefits the data center. The power line is strictly for the data center.”
He said the legal challenge argues the transmission line is intended to serve a private business rather than the public.
“So, therefore, we’ve got a lawsuit saying that this eminent domain does not apply because it’s not for the public good, and they cannot take land for private interests,” Zelenka said.
Zelenka said he intends to continue fighting the proposed route rather than voluntarily give up his property.
“Theoretically, at least legally, our contention is you cannot take private land for a private business, and this is a private business,” he said.
For Zelenka, the issue goes beyond the loss of acreage. He said the proposed project would fundamentally change the property where he has lived and maintained buildings, trees and other improvements for years.
“I’d almost be happy if I had half the property value,” Zelenka said. “Because right now I think we’re assessed at like $650,000.”
Zelenka has been dealing with ATC proposals over a year now, and said the frustrating thing is he can’t get a straight answer from anyone.
“The thing that’s really frustrating is trying to get the truth or accurate information,” he said. “First we get offers and then the offers are pulled and we think they’re routing another way… then, oop… now they’re sending new offers. It is the worst public relations outfit I’ve seen in my entire life; they’re just mutilated this entire presentation.”
Zelenka and his wife bought land on Highway A in the winter of 1990. The couple cleared land, purchased logs and built the house while living in the shed on the property. The Zelenkas worked on the house for nine months. “The only requirement my wife had for moving in is she wanted an indoor toilet,” he said. “She was very insistent we have a toilet inside, because we had an outhouse back in the woods for a while.”
Over the years, Zelenka took advantage of a DNR project where it offered trees for a penny a piece. “We’d pick up 500 or 1000 trees and we planted quaking aspen and so many others. That was also the year we learned about poison ivy.”
Zelenka traded an old motorcycle to a neighbor for 100-year-old cedar logs, and that’s what he used to build his barn.
Calls were placed Friday to raSmith, whose contact information was on the plans submitted to Zelenka. This story will be updated when a response is received. Calls were also placed to ATC.
Below is information from the group Protect Fredonia. Calls have been placed to that organization for comment.
ATC
10/1/2026
Today I received an offer from ATC (Absolutely Terrible Corporation) for Voluntary Option to Acquire Easement for the right of way through my home. They propose to destroy 1000 ft X 75’ wide path of mature pines, and hardwood forest. Tear down my shed, my chicken coop, my pig barn, my drive way, my garage and my machine shed for the grand total of 80,000.00 and a 50,000.00 bribe if I sign now. They also forgot to include that my antique barn was left off their wish list and would also need to be destroyed. AND they want “access” to whatever other land they would want to destroy in the process; ATC also wants the right to regularly spray “herbicide” as needed to kill any grass or windflowers they didn’t kill to start with. The power lines would run almost directly overhead, with a 130 ft tower in the middle of what was left of my driveway. Leaving my house standing alone. wide open to the highway and destroying any future value for the house or the property. They also threatened that should they decide to come my way they will just condemn my land and take it through Eminent Domain, Sound reasonable to you?
Needless to say, I will not be accepting ANY offer from them and can only reply.
SEE YOU IN COURT
Jerome H Zelenka Jr
Fredonia Wisc 53021
Looking at the latest proposals from ATC, it looks like the preferred and alternate routes have essentially been swapped with the new proposal. While not out of the woods (so to speak) for Mr. Zelenka, the chances of his property being despoiled by this project are perhaps less than they were several months ago when his property was on the preferred contingent route, which largely avoid the Towns of Saukville and Trenton in favor of Hwy A and Fredonia corridor.
What’s somewhat curious is that this now alternate route that goes along Hwy A sits mainly on the south side of the road, then about the county line, it crosses to the north side of the road and continues west, past Hwy M to the existing lines, where it once again crosses over to the south side of Hwy A to connect into that line. Again, it would be interesting to know the reason for this, since there are no structures that would fall into the easement if they continued along the south side of Hwy A in this section.
Interactive Project Map here:
https://atcllc-projects.com/