Gas line question headed to PSC
By Suzanne Werre, BHG News Service
The Underwood City Commission Monday night approved an agreement with Montana-Dakota Utilities to provide service to the remainder of the area of the Mees-Repnow Addition in south Underwood, but is going to let the Public Service Commission decide who is right regarding a previous contract with MDU in hopes of recouping some of the more than $11,500 it will be investing in the remaining gas line. At issue is a previous agreement the city and MDU entered into regarding the gas line that was put in along the alley of Marion Drive in Repnow-Mees in 2010. The commissioners all agree they thought the agreement, which cost the city $6,500, was to bring gas to the whole Repnow-Mees subdivision, so the city shouldn’t have to pay any more. MDU contends the $6,500 was for only a section of Repnow-Mees. Commissioner Jim Bailey was not on the commission at the time the agreement was entered into. Commissioners had City Auditor Diane Schell read the agreement that was signed in 2010, which indicates a gas line would be going to the Repnow-Mees Addition, but does not specify an area or footage. The agreement, however, did also contain a map which outlines the area MDU intended for the agreement, and at a previous meeting MDU’s Jayden Veil told the commissioners the gas line was for only 1,408 feet, the area along the alley of Marion Drive, which would not even come close to being enough for all of Repnow-Mees.
