Commission discusses concerns about CO2 pipeline

After each of the four county commission candidates expressed opposition to the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline at the candidate forum on Sept. 28, one of Summit Carbon Solution's local representatives, David Meyer, sat down with commissioners to ask what information he could provide to ease concerns.

This discussion was the final topic on the Brown County Commission agenda Tuesday, where at least a half-dozen were in attendance.

The result was a host of comments and concerns from commissioners and people in the audience. This included Commissioner Dennis Feickert who said, "What part of no is it that Summit Carbon Solutions doesn't understand?"

Feickert said the commission has already taken the position that it is against the installation of the pipeline in the county. He later asked for a map that showed each proposed weld on the pipeline for Brown, Spink and McPherson counties.

Commissioner Mike Gage asked if the exact route had been determined and Meyer said it's his understanding that the maps are fairly close. Major movements of the pipeline aren't going to happen, he said, but the site for the pipeline on a particular lot could be adjusted.

Others in attendance also brought up their concerns. Jared Bossly, who has spoken to the commission in opposition of the pipeline previously, asked about the results of a plume study and pipeline safety.

Meyer said meetings have been conducted with emergency management officials, but the rest of his comment was cutoff as conversation continued. Meyer later pointed out that other carbon dioxide pipelines have been installed since 1990 and there are currently more than 5,000 miles of CO2 pipeline with some in North Dakota.

More:County commission candidates discuss CO2 pipeline, jail needs, politics at forum

Former emergency manager Freddie Robinson said he continues to have a public safety concern about this pipeline and the possibility of a breach causing a vehicle, like a bus, to stall on the road and then taking the lives of the driver and children on the bus.

While there are existing pipelines, Ed Fischbach countered by pointing out this is the first pipeline built by Summit and there are many examples of pipelines leaking. Fischbach said several counties are against this. "We've heard this. We've had enough. Just go home."

Others asked who Summit's investors are and why so many lawsuits are being filed against landowners who don't want their land surveyed. Another expressed general concerns about the pipeline's proximity to Aberdeen and asked why other options aren't being pursued to reduce CO2 as opposed to a pipeline.

In closing, Brown County Commission Chairman Duane Sutton said so far Brown County has done what it can.

"We've been told we have no jurisdiction and we've been told we have some," he said. "We believe we've take the right steps to keep people in the county safe."

Commission defends intersection upgrade to four-way stop

Two people, who live south of Aberdeen and frequently use Brown County Highway 10 as a route into town, also expressed concerns about an intersection with 14W becoming a four-way stop.

Those concerns were raised during the open forum portion of Tuesday's meeting. Commissioners approved a resolution last week to convert that intersection to a four-way stop. Currently just east-west traffic has the stop sign

This is the highway intersection west of DemKota Ranch Beef, which is south of Aberdeen. South Fifth Street in Aberdeen turns into Brown County Highway 10 outside the city limits. Highway 14W is also 135th Street.

Both Leann Fredrickson and Dawn Shepard spoke against the change. Fredrickson said it feels like north-south traffic is being punished with this change; she also said this intersection has had very few accidents and is monitored by law enforcement, so why the change?

"Is there a problem with east-west traffic not stopping?" Fredrickson said.

Shepard said she occasionally sees east-west traffic drive through that intersection without stopping, but it's rare.

"I don't know how putting stop signs on the north and south is going to make it better," she said.

Shepard also noted concerns about winter weather conditions and the need to sand that intersection.

Highway Superintendent Dirk Rogers said because this intersection is being converted to a four-way stop, that area will now be sanded. He also stood by his decision to convert that intersection to a four-way stop because east-west traffic has increased. Between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., he said, 300 cars go through that intersection in an hour.

As a whole, Rogers said, Highway 10 was initially designed as a state highway, with the exception of two other gravel road intersections, he said, this is the last intersection along this stretch to see sign changes.

"I appreciate the comments," he said. "But, I don't see any reason to deviate from what we're doing."

Sutton also supported the decision which is based on the exponential increase in traffic since the beef plant was built.

"From a safety standpoint, we don't want to wait until there's a serious accident and we have to react," he said.

Commissioner Doug Fjeldheim said he's had to deal with sign changes at the intersection of County Highway 10 and 11.

"It takes a minute out of my day," he said later admitting the change affected him, but not substantially.

In other discussion, commissioners briefly discussed a potential speed limit change on Brown County Highway 4, which is the continuation of North Dakota Street beyond 24th Avenue Northeast.

Rogers said he's had requests to reduce the speed limit from 35 to 55 north of the berm for about another quarter of a mile. While there was some discussion about lowering the speed limit to 35 miles per hour all the way to Brown County Highway 13, ultimately discussion landed on a reduction to 35 miles per hour for the first quarter of a mile, and then 45 miles per hour until the Highway 13 intersection.

More:Brown County approves four-way stop resolution

RFP approved seeking rodeo promoter

In other action, Tuesday, commissioners took action to seek a Request for Proposals for rodeo stock contractors.

Sutton Rodeo has been stock contractor for the two-day rodeo event at the Brown County Fair, but declined moving forward with a third year on its current contract. Commissioners agreed last week to seek proposals. Fair Manager Rachel Kippley said the RFP will go directly to nine stock providers in this region. Proposals are due Nov. 1.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Brown County Commission, public discuss concerns about Summit pipeline