County purchases propane tank
By Curt Nettinga

HOT SPRINGS – The Fall River County Courthouse will be hooked up to a brand new propane tank later this year, after the county commission voted to purchase a tank at it’s Aug. 19 meeting.

The county currently uses a 6,000 gallon tank for its heating system in the courthouse and jail. According to Carl Neisner, Building Supervisor for the courthouse, the county used approximately 12,000 gallons of the 14,000 gallons it purchased.

The new tank, which will be purchased from a company called Cactus Tanks, LLC in Chandler, Okla., will hold 12,000 gallons, allowing the county to purchase propane in tankerloads, while also allowing a bid process to be utilized. At the present time, the county is only allowed to purchase propane from Nelson’s Oil and Gas, the owners of the 6,000 gallon tank.

Tanker-sized loads could also be less costly, as they require less handling

Tom Davis again requested that the county do something about the increased cost of flood insurance. Earlier, Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel had informed the commission that insurance rates would remain the same. Davis said that his flood insurance premium had increased $67 per year.

Commission chairman Joe Falkenburg asked Davis what it was he wanted the commission to do, as it has no control over insurance rates.

County Highway Superintendent Randy Seiler said that two bridges, which had been replaced in 1988, had been asked about by the city of Pierre for a bike path. The bridges are on the list of historical items and cannot be destroyed or scrapped.

Anne Cassens from Edgemont said that Edgemont may be interested in using one of the bridges to reach an island in Lake Calvert, which is in the Edgemont City Park. “I would much rather see a Fall River County bridge remain in use in the county,” commissioner Mike Ortner said, “than go to Pierre.”

County Emergency Manager Frank Maynard told the commissioners that he was again applying for a NRCS grant to clean up silt in drainage areas south of Alabaugh Canyon. Maynard said that recent rains had brought significant amounts of silt down the canyon and that it had affected Cascade Creek near the Nature Conservancy.

The signs to notify the Sheriff’s Department for a delay of 20 minutes or more have been installed. Sheriff Jeff Tarrell said that he wants people to call his department, so that blockages can be logged. “At some time, we may need the evidence in the sheriff’s log for legislative action,” he said.

Tarrell said that the train stoppages will be logged the same as checks at Coldbrook and Cottonwood are currently done.

Tarrell also noted that the current person who oversees the two reservoirs has taken a different job and that unless a new person is hired, he would not be re-upping his contract for patrols.

In other action, the commission:

• Approved a resolution opposing Initiated Measure 10 on the general election ballot this fall.

• Received notice of public comment on a draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement for in-situ uranium mining facilities. The nearest meetings will be held in Chadron on Aug. 27 and in Newcastle on Aug. 29.