A large crane appeared above the buildings and trees on the square on Friday, September 24, as crews working for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative prepared to move the power pole that had been installed at the corner of Main and 3rd streets.

PEC had installed the self-supporting concrete power pole in the state right-of-day along US 281 to connect areas west of town to the electric substation east of town. The installation of the pole was a surprise to many and raised the ire of Uptown Blanco, whose headquarters is just steps away from the pole, and the Blanco Historic Preservation Commission, as the pole was placed in the historic district.

At the August 30 meeting of the BHPC, Jerry Wisian with PEC addressed the commission, stating that PEC had met a couple of times with the city, the commission, and Uptown Blanco representatives, and had decided to move the pole back one block to the corner of 3rd and Elm streets.

With two cherry-pickers, a backhoe, and a towering crane, that move was made last Friday.

Uptown Blanco had commended PEC on their efforts to work with the historic district. Retta Martin, with the BHPC, said that the commission appreciated what PEC had done for the district and it was a learning experience about city ordinances and policies.