Opinion

Group asks city to re-examine water sites

Monday, August 5, 2002

Dear Editor: A group of about 35 people met on Tuesday, July 23, to select three well field sites from the six sites that were recommended by Olsson Associates.

At the meeting, each water committee member and each resident who is served by the City of McCook water system was given a ballot and asked to choose three sites. After talking to people that attended the meeting, a number of people did not vote for any site, or voted for the existing well field or a combination of the existing well field with another site. There was not a clear cut choice of any well field site based upon our findings. The City Manager should have included in his statement to the Gazette how many voted on each site versus the number present at the meeting.

At the Monday night Council meeting, Olsson Associates is going to present three sites for Council consideration. The hard factual reality is that all of the selected sites presented by Olsson Associates have problems either knowingly or unknowingly. Olsson Associates has advised the committee of what they were going to do and not the committee advising them. Olsson Associates will get the same money whether if it's a good site or a bad site, but blame will be associated with the Water Advisory Committee if it turns out to be a poor decision.

Let's face it, the fundamental reality is, the city cannot afford another costly mistake with huge spending commitments. What does all of this mean? The bottom line is to put this water issue on hold, do nothing at the present time.

The existing well field is not out of water. We are the only town in the area without a "strong" water conservation plan. As per the City's proposal for drilling of the test wells, all drilling and testing was to be completed by July 31, 2002. We recommend to void the contract for test well drilling and save the City $46,000.00.

Sincerely,

Concerned Citizens of McCook

Keith Arterburn, Richard Bair, Jim Kenny, Jack Lytle

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