No changes will be made in the speed limit on old U.S. 169 immediately north of Humboldt, Allen County commissioners decided Tuesday. KING said he intended to look at new fuel pumps, with more secure dispensing, at the county’s public works complex south of Iola. JERRY Daniels, who will become undersheriff when current Undersheriff Bryan Murphy becomes sheriff on Jan. 14, was hired as a deputy for the intervening time. RODNEY Burns, who audits county financial records and assists each year in preparation of the budget, told commissioners they could expect to have about $180,000 in the general fund on Jan. 1.
Joe Weiner, on whose land a pipe yard is being constructed to support construction in Allen County and nearby counties, asked the speed limit be lowered from 55 to 45 miles per hour for 600 feet north of Humboldt’s city limit as a safety measure.
Sheriff Tom Williams thought otherwise.
“Embridge (the pipeline company) has large lighted signs that alert drivers of truck traffic,” Williams said. “That’s enough,” coupled with the obvious construction area that soon will have large-diameter pipe stored over several acres.
“Embridge has taken extreme measures (with the signs) to protect the public,” he added.
The 36-inch diameter pipe eventually will be laid diagonally, northwest to southwest, across the county to carry crude oil from Flanagan, Ill., to Cushing, Okla.
The pipe will be delivered in long sections, which initially was a concern for Bill King, director of Public Works. He feared the transports would damage the road’s pavement.
“They have a 50-foot entry into the pipe yard, which they think will be sufficient and so do I,” King said Tuesday.
“They’ve been good to work with,” King added.
In addition to the major pipeline extension across the county, Embridge also is doing repairs on a line that has been in the county for years.
“And,” King noted, “Westar is in the midst of putting in new transmission lines” to its subway east of Humboldt.
Advantage to the county will be a bump in accessed valuation of the companies’ holdings
“The pumps are 50 years old and we’ve been on the honor system for years,” King said, which means county vehicles are fueled and a ticket then is turned in to the county clerk’s office, where fuel consumption is tracked.
“I don’t think we’ve had any problems, I’m certainly not saying anyone is dishonest, but it’s not a very good way to do business,” he said.
Also, the pumps are old enough tests have found they’re off a bit — more is pumped than they show.
During off hours the pumps are locked and they are in fenced and locked area.
Even so, with gasoline prices being what they are, Sheriff Williams said he thought a more secure means of handling fuel would be a good idea.
King said he would research cost of a pump upgrade.
“It will give him a chance to become oriented to how we do things and also fill in while Bryan is at sheriff’s school,” which will take him from the county the first two weeks of December, Williams said.
That’s $70,000 less cash to carry forward than commissioners had anticipated, but won’t pose a problem. Burns said the difference mainly was in mortgage registration fees falling far below exceptions.
“We budgeted for $110,000 in the fees, and it looks like it’s going to be about $60,000,” Burns said.
The fees are collected when property loans are executed.
Burns said the cash carryover could be enhanced by transfers, such as from the solid waste fund, due to contain more than $600,000 when the year ends.
Humboldt speed limit to remain
