The pallet pile on Tuesday sat east of the Winter Show building. (Steve Browne/VCTR) 

By Steve Browne
Valley City Times-Record

After spring flooding, dike removal is time-consuming and sandbag disposal is proceeding, but sandbag pallet disposal has a simple, quick answer: Have a bonfire cookout.
“We’re going to have a party!” said Valley City Mayor Mary Lee Nielson.
The pallets, used to transport sandbags during the flood, will be torched at 6 p.m. Saturday south of the Winter Show building, 250 W. Main St. The hundreds and perhaps thousands of pallets currently sit east of the building.
The Valley City Convention and Visitors Bureau has donated hot dogs for the burning. The fire department will help ensure safety.
“People like to watch fire,” said Valley City Fire Chief Gary Retterath.
“This is mostly a symbolic thing,” he said. “We’re done with this project, we’ll end it and be rid of it,” referring to the flood fight.
Retterath said the fire department will burn only part of the pallet pile, enough for a bonfire the size of a pickup truck.