11/13/2001 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
November 13, 2001
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Grand
Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First Street, on
November 13, 2001. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on
November 7,2001.
Mayor Ken Gnadt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present:
Councilmembers Pielstick, Seifert, Larson, Homady, Whitesides, Haase, Mun-ay, Walker and
Sorensen. Councilmember Ward was absent. The following City Officials were present: City
Clerk RaNae Edwards, Public Works Director Steve Riehle and Finance Director David
Springer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said.
Scout Troop 119 were present for the meeting.
Presentation of Water System Engineering and Environmental Evaluation. Gary Mader, Utilities
Director, reported that the last engineering evaluation of the Water System was done in 1986.
Since that time, the area served by the Grand Island municipal system had increased greatly and
the hydraulics of the system had also changed.
Additionally, the ever lower regulation of contaminates, both naturally occurring in the aquifer
and from human activity, have the potential to significantly change the way the City's water is
produced. At present, the City water is untreated, except for chlorination for disinfection
protection. The waters in the naturally occurring aquifer underlying this area are hard waters
containing a variety of naturally occurring elements, and compounds, some of which are being
considered for regulation by EP A.
Mr. Mader also stated that earlier this year, the engineering firm performing this evaluation,
CH2MHill, made a preliminary report to Council. Doug Simon, Water Resource Engineer and
Tom Heinemann, Project Manager, representing CH2Mhill, were introduced.
Mr. Heinemann presented the Environmental Quality results. Reviewed were the project
overviews, water quality regulatory review and background of the current system. Several
scenarios were presented with the best case scenario costing approximately $375,000. Discussed
were the reverse osmosis systems and the costs related to them.
Currently, the Utilities Department has increased the dosages of chlorine to the water with no
additional water quality complaints. Parkview Well #3 has been abandoned. Councilmember
Murray asked what steps had been taken regarding keeping our water supply safe from terrorists
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Page 2, City Council Study Session, November 13,2001
attacks. Mr. Heinemann stated that the utilities departments across the country are dealing with
that issue and as of yet no government regulations had been put in place.
Mr. Simon presented the Hydraulics of the Water Distribution System. Reviewed were model
assumptions which included the high pressure wells that would likely be abandoned within the
next 10 years. Improvements required were additional storage at Platte River wellfield, increased
pumping capacity at Roger's reservoir, increased pumping capacity at Platte River wellfield to
Roger's 'reservoir and new tank and extend water service to the East Lakes area by the year
2005. Increased pumping capacity at Pine Street pumping station would be required by the year
2020.
Mr. Simons stated significant improvements would be needed when high pressure wells are
abandoned, with the vast majority of improvements likely to occur in the next 5 to 10 years. All
recommended improvements would support 20+ years of growth.
Gary Mader, Utilities Director, discussed the copper ruling issues. Mr. Mader recommended that
the city continue with the lowest cost option.
Tom O'Neill, 804 West Stolley Park Road, spoke about eliminating copper, recommending that
all new building projects be required to use plastic or other materials.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Q[\~ C(D~,,~-v
RaN ae Edwards
City Clerk