MDU answers Repnow-Mees gas line questions
By Suzanne Werre, BHG News Service
The Underwood City Commission is still trying to iron out some confusion regarding a 2010 contract with MDU regarding gas line installation to the Repnow-Mees Addition. The commissioners were under the impression that the gas line was going through the entire addition, and that if at least five homes were built along that line within five years, there would be no cost to the city, which would then mean no cost to the home-owner. The confusion came to the forefront when resident Ethan Vaagene built a new home in the Repnow-Mees Addition on the west side of Marion Drive, and he was billed for the gas line installation. Commissioners told Vaagene not to pay the bill, assuming Vaagene’s home should have been included in the five homes that were needed to be built for the no-charge for the line, and that they would meet with MDU to try to rectify the situation. MDU representative Jayden Veil was at last Monday’s commission meeting to discuss the line with the commissioners. “When we went south of town down Marion Drive, we talked about five homes,” said Commission President Rick Olson; if five homes were put up in that area, there would be no cost of putting the line in to the city or the home owners. “As far as we’re concerned, we’ve more than met our obligation for that stretch.”
