The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming

Lightning strikes water line

Last Wednesday night, lightning struck a transformer and a number of area residents and businesses were affected for several hours. This same strike traveled from the transformer up the power line and wiped out the two electric “booster” pumps that are responsible for moving water from the Madison well approximately six miles east of Moorcroft into the municipal tank, leaving citizens depending only on the smaller wells located around town limits.

Mayor Dick Claar reported that Powder River Energy advised the town that their insurance will probably not cover the damage so Moorcroft may have to make a claim on the municipal insurance, saying, “That’s a $5,000 deductable.” The mayor said that the council saved $50,000 this year that they hope can be used for this situation, if not, the funds “could come out of that [rollover] $11,000.”

Public Works Director Cory Allison is currently seeking prices for replacing these items and assures the public that his department is monitoring the water levels closely and does not anticipate the need for restrictions at this time. Allison hopes to see the work complete within the next week.

 
 
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