September 10, 2026 – Fredonia, Wi – Just to make matters clear I am old and somewhat cranky, that I will freely admit. Generally, I’m pretty laid back about things, content to mind my own business, living quietly with my wife, my chickens and my dogs . I have little interest in politics or affairs of the world, I am happily retired, living peacefully on my 10 acres of land on the Milwaukee River. That was true until ATC, American Transmission Company decided they wanted to take away my land, my house and all I have built over the last 30 plus years and erect their high voltage power lines and towers right down the middle of my property, and along and over the Milwaukee River. If approved, they will confiscate my property using the laws of what are called Eminent Domain.
Eminent domain is the “authority of federal, state, or local governments to acquire private property for projects that serve a public purpose,” – The formal legal process of exercising eminent domain is called condemnation, this is an ordinance that allows the government to condemn your land, to take your home your property or anything else they deem necessary for the “Public Good” and there is nothing you can do about it.
The problem is the transmission lines that ATC are proposing are NOT for my good or anyone else’s, but for the sole purpose that has been stated in writing by them of powering the Vantage AI Data Center now being built in Port Washington. Therefore, we believe the Law of Eminent Domain DOES NOT APPY in this case.
To that end a number of us that are directly affected have filed a lawsuit in Federal Court to contest the confiscation and destruction of our homes and our land using this false claim of “Public Interest.”
We realize that going up against such a huge corporation with their army of lawyers is an uphill battle, but we will not go quietly into the night without a fight, for our homes, our families and our neighbors.
Jerome Zelenka
Fredonia Wi 53021
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