The Sunfish Lake City Council will comply with a judge's ruling ordering them to grant Xcel Energy a permit for an upgraded power line, but a citizen's group opposing the proposed new line will move forward with its own appeal.

At a City Council meeting Wednesday night, the council voted 4-1 to follow the judge's order. "The majority reasoned that an appeal was very unlikely to succeed, that an appeal could expose the city to substantial claims for damages now and in the future, and that Xcel has the option under the new legislation to obtain a permit directly from the Public Utilities Commission even if an appeal were successful... . should state or federal agencies adopt standards for EMF exposures, Xcel agrees to comply," according to a statement from Mayor Frank Tiffany.

Construction would not start until winter at the earliest, but could be delayed further because the Power Line Task Force will appeal, said Roger Conant, a task force member. The task force was granted intervenor status in the case. "We view our chances as excellent," he said.