The City of Burrton is considering selling off its natural gas, but City Clerk Kim Ryan said the decision wasn’t final. Ryan said the city had received interest from both the Kansas Gas Service and Black Hills Energy. The Kansas Gas Service set the original deadline for Feb. 4 but extended it for a later meeting. Ryan said the city plans to have a meeting on Feb. 5 and expects a decision to be made by the middle of February. According to Ryan, the city is considering selling because of all the state regulations. “You almost need a couple of full time people to run it,” Ryan said. “We don’t have that manpower.” Ryan said the current supervisor who knows how to manage it plans to retire in 2026, and finding a replacement would be challenging. Cost was another reason Ryan said the city is thinking of selling. “It’s costing more to run it than [it’s] making,” Ryan said. Burrton, like Halstead and Hesston, has struggled with high gas prices during the cold temperatures seen in recent winters. In 2021, gas bills increased by 10 to 20 times the normal rate for that time of year.
Source: Harvey County Now
