STANTON, Neb. (KTIV) -
The first phase of the Keystone pipeline was placed through Nebraska in 2010.
And with the crude oil, it brought an economic boost to the counties and communities it ran through.
Some of those benefits were temporary and others are still being felt today.
Out in Stanton, Neb., a town close to a segment of the pipeline, officials wanted sustainable benefits, like new jobs, but they got something much more short term.
They say they saw more business at stores, restaurants and gas stations while the line was being laid.
They attribute the boost to construction crews coming into town for gas, food, and whatever else.
It only lasted about three to four months.
After that, crews packed up and moved with the construction.
City officials say they were hoping for more, but given the chance, they'd do it again.
"If they'd decide to come through Stanton again, we would welcome them. Even though we didn't reap the benefits that we expected, there were still a lot of positive things," said Stanton's Mayor, Colleen Paden.
A long term benefit, will be the property tax revenue the pipeline generates for those in Stanton County.
TransCanada, owns the line, and had to acquire about 20 million dollars of rural land to build and maintain it.
They'll pay about $343,000 in taxes this year, to be split amongst the county and its school districts.
