This is starting to sound a little expensive.

Pat Powers

A study on our state capital’s flaming fountain monument is giving the impression that the ancient water and gas piping is going to be a little expensive to remedy:

A fix for the Flaming Fountain near the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre could be more urgent, complicated and expensive than anticipated, and it could require an alternative water source for Capitol Lake, according to an expert report.

and…

The report also said the well’s steel casing might be corroded, and water could be leaking through the casing into soft and crumbly underground formations, where the water could be forming cavities that might settle or collapse.

Read it here.

One issue is that changing it from a naturally heated water source back to a natural unheated flow, the lake would freeze over in the winter.

But, that might not be a bad thing.

(Pierre weekly free press, Thursday, Jan 01, 1914, Pierre, SD)

A frozen lake could have the potential for restoring ice skating on the body of water, which took place early in the 1900’s. But, if that were ever to happen, I am sure that would be many years off.

And I’ll bet you never knew the lake actually had a name besides “Capitol Lake.”

9 thoughts on “This is starting to sound a little expensive.”

  1. Another benefit would be far fewer geese crapping all over the parking lots and sidewalks around the Capitol all year around !

  2. Just because it is more “expensive than anticipated” does not mean it is “too expensive.”

    If there is a change as big as this to the Capitol grounds, all would be served by a full conversation of all options, all costs, and the pros and cons of each option.

  3. Future generations should experience the joy of snuffing the flame with snow then tossing on a match to create a mini-mushroom cloud when it re-lit. Awesome childhood fun.

  4. I think skating on capitol lake in winter and Christmas would be a beautiful thing for Pierre.

    No one really goes down there now. I guess I do but it stinks and birds poop everywhere.

    Buildings and grounds really could clean the poop off the side walks more often.

  5. I have been an advocate for ice skating at the capitol for a long time.

    It would be romantic and fun under all the Christmas lights. Monroe’s son could pull his coffee trailer over and sell hit chocolate and coffees. Hard to beat.

    Maybe even goose drum sticks.

  6. Wow. Sounds like changes NEED to happen in regards to this memorial fountain. It can’t stay the same without it being a hazard to the public. I think those groups memorialized there and the residents of Pierre should get on board with changes to this and be proactive and positive about what needs to be done.

  7. It is a disgrace to our fallen heroes that the geese are allowed to poop all over the war memorial and make it impossible for people to visit the site without stepping on the waste. Let the lake freeze or drive off the geese with noise.

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