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Commission discusses county-acquired tar/oil tank; heating system dismantled during transport
Summary
County staff reported that the county purchased a used tar/oil tank on Purple Wave from a South Dakota county and that the heating system was dismantled to make transport possible.
During “old business,” county staff explained the background of an oil/tar tank under county care: it was purchased on Purple Wave from a South Dakota county and arrived containing residual product. Staff said the county paid roughly $2,500 for the tank and incurred modest freight costs; one staff member recalled total in‑county cost (purchase plus freight) “maybe $5 or $6 thousand.”
Presenters said the tank’s burner/heating system had been partly dismantled to make it transportable. That county (the seller) reportedly used the tank intermittently—bringing it up to temperature a week or two before use, then letting it sit cold much of the year—and the buyer hoped local contractors could reassemble or repair the burners. Presenters said the alternative—buying a new heating system—had been quoted in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Commissioners discussed possible next steps: (1) contact local heating contractors (Prairie Heating, “Grama Hooman”/Greg Hooman were mentioned as potential contacts) to estimate repair costs; (2) check auction receipts and purchase paperwork (auditor and county staff were asked to locate receipts on Purple Wave); (3) consider donating or transferring the tank to the nearby city of Linton or other local governments if the county cannot staff or maintain it; and (4) trial-use the tank for a season and reassess whether maintenance needs are practicable.
No formal action to spend county funds for repairs was taken; commissioners directed staff to gather receipts, contact heating contractors for estimates and report back at a future meeting.
