Clay (last name not specified), presenting the annual update on the gas distribution system, described recent capital and operations work, progress on large repair and replacement efforts, and oversight of the third‑party Elk Ridge project.

At a glance, Clay said the town‑site and White Rock gas systems differ: White Rock’s system was inherited from a prior utility and is mostly uniform 60‑psi piping, while the town‑site uses a 100‑psi trunk with 20‑psi distribution and multiple pressure‑regulation stations. He reported DP Road construction required extensive replacement and abandonment of chaotic, legacy lines; crews upsized piping to standardize and improve capacity for future development.

Clay described an unplanned replacement on Court Street after crews traced intermittent leaks to an isolated, older steel section in a resident’s yard. He said pipeline patrol and continuous surveillance—regular, staff‑led inspections—helped identify a leak that had migrated through soil and vegetation to an area near a home.

"We were able to trace it down. And sure enough... they found a big dead spot in this person's yard," Clay recounted when explaining how the leak was located and repaired.

Elk Ridge project and customer transition

Clay reported the Elk Ridge third‑party project had installed most mains but still required many service connections and coordination with homeowners and the state for final pressure tests. He said municipal crews are performing required inspection work and will install meter manifolds and many of the meter sets; the county will ultimately assume ownership and ongoing maintenance of the system.

Clay cautioned the schedule and state inspection capacity may extend the work into next year: "I'm afraid that this is gonna go well past heating season, and we really can't be doing that during the winter," he said, noting the county must avoid leaving homes without heat during cold weather while compliance repairs and pressure testing occur.

Operational and regulatory work

Clay described steps staff took to strengthen ongoing regulatory compliance: establishing a dedicated gas crew and supervisor, completing pipeline patrols and atmospheric‑corrosion mitigation, and improving record keeping in GIS and an enterprise database (Energy World Net). He said these measures were intended to ensure operator qualifications and documentation are auditable for state pipeline safety oversight.

Public comment from Elk Ridge resident

During public comment, resident Richard Cottrell, who lives at Elk Ridge Unit 310, said the contractor’s designed riser and meter placement could place a riser in the middle of parking and circulation areas. He asked the county to move the riser to reduce vehicle‑strike risk and said he had heard a rumor that homeowners would face a $800–$1,000 hookup fee. He asked the county to confirm whether homeowners would be charged.

"We were promised there would be no cost to hooking up the trailers when we discussed this back earlier in the year," Cottrell said. "I'm going to hold you to that, and I'm going to trace the money down."

Clay and staff stated the county is overseeing meter manifold installations and recordkeeping and will assist with technical coordination. Clay said the county provides inspection and record support for third‑party projects and that meter installation and any code compliance work with homeowners must be coordinated with the state and licensed plumbers.

Ending

Staff said they will continue monthly leak surveys and scheduled regulatory tasks, pursue remaining integrity and cathodic‑protection work, and coordinate with Elk Ridge contractors, plumbers and the state to minimize customer outage risk and to complete pressure testing ahead of heating season where possible.

Missing details: the transcript records the resident’s concerns about potential hookup fees but does not record a county policy decision on fees; Clay and staff said connection details will be handled as the contractor and homeowners coordinate and as state inspections are scheduled.