THEDFORD, Neb. (AP) — A judge has ordered a family ranch to let Nebraska Public Power District access its land for survey work.

Court records say the ruling came Monday in the Brush Creek Ranch lawsuit against the district. The lawsuit sought unspecified compensation for damage to land north of Thedford that was done by a survey team checking land boundaries for a power line project.

The district said Nebraska law gave it the authority as a publicly owned utility to survey the ranch and other land. The lawsuit said the utility first should have begun condemnation proceedings and obtained court authority for the survey.

The judge ruled for the district, saying the law indeed gave it authority to enter the land and also required it to pay for any damage caused the incursion.