A resident urged Jefferson County officials to stop work on a proposed propane storage tank located beside a group of homes, telling the board the placement threatens residents and local emergency responders.

“We're in imminent danger the moment that propane gets put in that tank,” the resident said during public comment, asking commissioners to investigate who signed permits and whether any emergency-management assessment was performed before planning. The speaker said the tank blocks the only entrance and exit for five homes and that an explosion could trigger secondary blasts at nearby facilities she named during comments.

The resident described personal stakes — parents, children, neighbors and local law enforcement — and asked the board to halt construction until a solution that benefits the community is found. She offered to provide written questions and asked staff to examine the chemical used in tank testing, noting she has asthma and that odors could pose a health problem.

Board response: Commissioners acknowledged the resident’s anger and concern and said they sympathize, with one commissioner noting that certain state-level preemptions limit county control in some siting decisions. County members said they would try to find options within their authority, including inviting an expert from the regulatory agency to brief the board on propane safety and permitting.

What’s next: The resident asked the board to halt work and to visit the site; commissioners replied they would attempt to arrange further information and staff briefings but did not announce a formal stop to construction during the meeting.

Source: Public comment at the Jefferson County board meeting (SEG 001–SEG 276).