PIERRE — The Nebraska Public Service Commission has issued an order assessing a 290-thousand dollar civil penalty against a Gettysburg grain marketing operation for dealing grain without a Nebraska grain dealer license. The order issued Tuesday finds Banghart Properties L-L-C operated as an unlicensed dealer in the state under at last three other names; all carrying the Fearless Grain banner. Nebraska’s version of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission filed a complaint against Banghart in October of last year alleging numerous violations of the Nebraska Grain Dealer Act. Testimony during a January 5th hearing show the P-S-C documented 50 transactions that each violated three provisions of the act; leading to a total of 87 violations. In a press release, P-S-C Commission Chair Dan Watermeier calls Banghart’s violation a “flagrant violation of Nebraska law along with an unwillingness to comply.” The fine could have been worse. Regulators recommended the maximum penalty allowed of 870-thousand dollars. Banghart has 30 days to appeal the ruling. The P-S-C declined further comment citing the possibility of an appeal.
