BalCon’s New Processing Center and Warehouse Coming to Elk Point

BalCon’s New Processing Center, Warehouse, Coming to Elk Point

BalCon Enterprises Inc., dba Helluva Packaging, announced today that it will be constructing a new processingcenterandwarehousefacilityinElkPoint,S.D. BalCon is an industrial packaging company that specializes in the production and recycling of FIBC bulk bags, as well as the refurbishment and sale of Gaylord boxes.Thenew22,500-square-footbuildingwillallowthe company to eventually add up to 22 full-time jobs.

“This is a true rural development success story, ” said Gov. Dennis Daugaard. “New infrastructure, new construction and new jobs are significant for any community, but this kind of reinvestment is especially significant in a smaller community like Elk Point. ”

BalCon’s new facility will be the first tenant in the newly established business and industrial park in Elk Point, a project made possible in part by funding from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), which collectively awarded $500,000 in infrastructure assistance to help develop the new industrial park.

“Our existing facility has served us well since we began the business. But we’ ve simply outgrown it, ” said Kevin Connelly,BalConvicepresident. “Thekeythingaboutour new facility is that it will be properly insulated, allowing us to repair and refurbish more Gaylord boxes for our customers. Currently, during times when it’s especially cold, our repair methods are not as effective when we repair boxes that come into our facility. That means we have to send those boxes to the paper mill for recycling.

“The problem is those boxes potentially have a lot of life left in them. Our new facility will allow us to salvage 4 millionpoundsofcorrugatedcardboard,savingusandour customers a lot of money. ”

“Elk Point is a perfect example of a progressive small town, ” said Dennis Nelsen, city administrator, Elk Point. “We’re thrilled BalCon chose not only to reinvest in Elk Point, but also serve as the anchor tenant in our industrial park. ”

Connelly says the company plans to break ground this fall and be operational by summer of next year. For more information about BalCon Enterprises Inc, dba Helluva Packaging, go to http://helluva.com.

In the 2015 SDMEA Comparison of Operations, Watertown had the highest number of total electric meters with 12,758. I decided to travel to Watertown to meet with the men and women behind the scenes that keep the city progressing with their forward thinking.

Doug Enstad has been a trademark at Watertown Municipal Utilities for 38 years. He began his career at WMU in 1979 and has seen many changes throughout his time there. Since he began as the Electrical Meter Foreman in 1990 the city has built two sub stations to make a total of 5 substations and 7 total substation transformers. WMU has also changed over from mechanical protection to electronic relays. They have installed a SCADA system and have transferred over to AMR. They have also installed transmission loop around thetowntothesubstationsaswellasupgradingfrom69kV to 115kV for those lines. Watertown is also about 50% underground with 126.90 circuit miles of three phase underground and 105.08 miles of single phase underground at this point.

As I sat down to visit with Doug and Todd Chambers (Director of Operations), I was told that Watertown receives between 30% and 35% of their power from WAPAand is an MRES customer for the remaining power purchased. They also informed me that MRES has an operational generation plant in Watertown that could be used in emergency situations. The generator is exercised and tested annually and rated at 60MW.

MRES Watertown Power Plant

After the interview Doug drove me around the town to show me a couple of the substations and mentioned that they now have a 115KV loop between the substations as well as a fiberoptic loop to communicate with each sub. WMU also provides fiberoptic to the schools and City Hall.

SOUTH DAKOTA BASIC CODE Affordable Codification for Small and Mid-Sized South Dakota Municipalities A comprehensive model code of ordinances for municipalities featuring: Subject matter encountered by municipalities Annual state law updates A comprehensive index and a title devoted to your unique local ordinances Published by American Legal and the South Dakota Municipal League For more information call or e-mail deRicci Getty at 1-800-445-5588 or dgetty@amlegal.com

Control Room for the Uptown Substation

I had an excellent time meeting with several of the employees at Watertown Municipal Utilities including a quick visit with General Manager-Steve Lehner and Director ofAdministration-Adam Karst. It was also great to meet the Line Foreman-Brian Benson, and the 10 linemen. They were all very polite and seem to take pride in their work at WMU. Their hard work and pride in the City of Watertown shows us what makes their HOMETOWN great!

From Left to Right: Ron Renelt, Justin Stanley, Brian Benson, Stephen Catlette, Jeff Determan, Doug Enstad, Todd Chambers, Dave Meseberg, Daren Gollnick, Lance Tolley, James Rudebusch, Brent Hansen. Not pictured: Alex Jonnes, Mike Pederson, Steve Witte.

Questions? Comments? Email me

at Chris@sdmunicipalleague.org Call Chris: 605-770-6299.