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| DATE:
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10/20/2015 7:00:00 PM |
| SUBJECT: |
| Council Consideration of a Resolution to Provide Water to the Bennor Improvement and Service District on an Emergency Basis. |
| BACKGROUND: |
Staff recommends that Bennor Improvement and Service District be allowed to become a City water customer at the new Wholesale Rate as soon as the pipeline is ready to serve them because their existing water source is at a hazardous level because of the presence of radionuclides in violation of EPA standards for safe water.
Gillette passed Resolution 2327, on July 5, 2011 to restrict extensions of the City water system to serve areas outside the city limits until the Gillette Regional Water Supply System is completed and production increases significantly. Resolution 2327 includes an exception for requests to extend the City water system due to exceptional emergency situation.
Gillette and the Bennor Improvement and Service District (Bennor) have mutually agreed to a Water Service Agreement, (approved by the City Council on November 18, 2014) for water service when the Gillette Regional Water Supply System is completed and production increases significantly. Bennor is subject to an Administrative Order from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to bring their water system into compliance with the maximum contaminant level for combined radium by December 31, 2015, which can only be achieved by connection with the Gillette Regional Water Supply System. A portion of the Gillette Regional Water Supply System will be connected to Bennor on or about the end of December, 2015, and will be able to supply Bennor with water, although the entire Gillette Regional Water Supply System will not be completed and no new supplies of water will be available until late in 2016 or early 2017. Gillette has enacted a Wholesale water rate, with an effective date of November 1, 2016, for Improvement and Service Districts such as Bennor. |
| SUGGESTED MOTION: |
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I move for the Approval of a Resolution to Provide Water to the Bennor Improvement and Service District on an Emergency Basis.
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| STAFF REFERENCE: |
| Charlie Anderson, City Attorney |
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