City water matters highlighted the majority of the Emporia City Commission’s recent study session Wednesday.
The first topic dealt with the city’s development of a new risk and resiliency plan and emergency response plan for the city water treatment plant. According to Public Works Director Dean Grant, the city is working with Municipal H2O, an Arkansas-based company, to develop both plans which are a requirement for all water treatment plants that serve a population of more than 3,300 people under the America’s Water Infrastructure Act.
According to Grant, the risk and resilience plan will identify potential risks to the treatment plant through both malevolent and natural hazards. The risks identified are then implemented into the emergency response plan.
Grant says the city does have an emergency response plan currently in place, however, it has not been updated since 2001. Grant explains the update in plans is coming at the behest of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The cost of the project is estimated at around $24,500 according to Grant.
In other water-related discussions, Grant also proposed the city apply for a second state revolving fund water drinking loan to assist with numerous projects in the local area. The city has already utilized a $10 million SRF loan for the same purpose and will be seeking $11 million with the second application.
Each of the projects that the money would be put towards were identified through the use of a water system model developed in partnership between the city and BG Consultants last year. Grant says they all will be aimed at reducing stress on older lines and reducing redundancies in the city’s water system.
The next step in the process will be to deliver the proposed project list to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for approval. Grant did not give specifics on the proposed projects as the list is subject to change.
The list is expected to be sent off to KDHE sometime in the next week.
In other business, commissioners and city staff began conversations regarding vacant buildings surrounding White Auditorium located at 618 and 622 Mechanic and 512 Market.
There are currently no concrete plans as to what to do with these properties according to City Manager Mark McAnarney.
At this time the buildings are being utilized for storage by multiple city departments.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene next Wednesday inside the municipal courtroom at White Auditorium at 1:30 pm following the City/County Commission joint meeting at 11 am at the Lyon County Courthouse.
