A tale of two cities: Beulah passes, Hazen fails natural gas

Posted 6/17/09 (Wed)

The votes are tallied and certified. The special election held in both Beulah and Hazen to allow the cities to form a municipal utility for the purpose of owning or leasing a natural gas pipeline distribution system within each city passed in Beulah 205 to 95 – while floundering in Hazen, 150 in favor to 163 opposed.

Hazen Mayor Delmar Schramm was surprised by the results, as was Hazen City Planner Steve Frovarp.

"I thought it would end up passing," Frovarp said. "Based on the survey – I thought it would be close, but I thought it would pass."