'Final answer' on water expected

Monday, April 21, 2003

The final answer to the question of whether the city will treat its water or find a new water source is expected during tonight's regular city council meeting.

The decision was made to treat the city's water supply in November. However, in December the city administrators received information that the proposed site for the treatment facility -- also the site of the city's 4 million gallon storage tank -- is sitting over a 1 million to 5 million gallon diesel spill.

That information prompted Jack Daniel of Nebraska Health and Human Services to deny the city's initial proposal of placing the treatment facility at the storage tank site.

In early March, the council voted 3-2 to ask Miller & Associates and W Design to take one more look for a new well source north of McCook.

The results of the testing done by the two firms will be presented to the council this evening, 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of Memorial Auditorium.

The two firms looked at two sites north of McCook. According to the engineering reports the Hanthorn site, located about 18 miles north of the city. would cost water users on average an additional $19.68 per household. The second site, known as the Meissner/Snyder Well Field would cost users $21.50. If wells were drilled on each site, the increased cost would be about $24.41.

It is not expected the city will purchase the land needed to develop the well fields, but will, instead, lease the water rights from the landowners.

The cost of building a treatment facility would cost water users an additional estimated $34.69 per month.

Tests for nitrates, arsenic and uranium were completed on several test holes in and around the proposed well field sites. On the Hanthorn site, nitrates ranged from 2.4 - 3.0 ppm, arsenic ranged from 5.6 - 6.1 ppb and uranium ranged from 8.9 - 11 ppb. On the Meissner/Snyder site, tests showed nitrates ranging from 3.3 - 4.3 ppm, arsenic from 5.9 - 6.5 ppb and uranium at 7.49 - 9.1 ppb.

Standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency are 10 ppm for nitrates, 10 ppb for arsenic and 20 ppb for uranium. No matter what the Council's decision, City Manager John Bingham said the city must have its solution on line by March 2006.

Council members will face another major decision during the meeting when they are asked how they would like to use an unallocated portion -- $328,437 -- of the city sales tax revenue.

The list of possible improvements include an elevator at the city library, air conditioning for Memorial Auditorium, street improvements, and handicap accessibility to city offices and the council chambers.

In other action:

- Administrators will ask the council to authorize the city staff to request permission from the McCook School Board to use the McCook Junior High kitchen and lunchroom from June 13 to Aug. 8, while Heritage Senior Center is undergoing renovations.

- The council is expected to receive and file a financial report for the quarter ending March 31.

- The council is expected to receive and file a status report regarding the drainage issue along A Street .

- City staff will present the council with an application for Public Transportation Assistance for approval.

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