propane

The president of the North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association said he’s happy Gov. Doug Burgum signed a waiver of hours of service for those who haul propane, gasoline and diesel fuel.

Mike Rud said the wet fall and late harvest is causing increased demands for propane, which is used to  help crops dry out. Rud said that demand is regional, as a number of states issued their own waivers.

"There's probably a 7-state area in the Midwest," Rud said. "Everyone's trying to get the corn and the beans off the fields at the same time, since it was such a wet fall.

The city of Granville will pay a $3000 fine for violations at its city owned propane plant.

Granville has the last municipally-owned propanesystem in North Dakota. It provides heat to 123 customers.

Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk said inspectors found four separate violations. He said at first, PSC staff recommended a $30,000 fine – but Kalk said the city has solved the problems.

"This will put a bite on city revenues to pay this fine," Kalk said. "But you can't just suspend everything."

Kalk said there has to be accountability.