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Kennedy asks state help to repair underground storage after 2017 water-tower failure
Summary
Kennedy officials asked the committee for support to repair underground storage and add a booster station after their water tower froze in 2017, citing a multi-year temporary direct-feed system and tight local finances.
City officials from Kennedy told the House Capital Investment Committee that their community has operated under a temporary direct-feed water system since a 2017 water-tower freeze left the tower beyond repair and asked for state assistance to repair underground storage and build a booster station.
"This temporary solution has now been in place for eight years," Melissa Wojnarowicz, city clerk for Kennedy, said. She described a plan to install a booster station and repair underground storage tanks as a replacement for the water tower. Wojnarowicz said the total estimated cost is $2,696,000 and that the city has secured some grant funding but still needs additional support. She noted Kennedy has about 103 households and many residents on fixed incomes.
Representative John Buerkle (House File 603) introduced the request. The bill number was stated by the sponsor during the hearing; the bill language and any appropriation amount were not finalized in committee testimony. No formal committee action or vote was taken during the informational hearing.
Kennedy officials emphasized public-safety concerns: their hydrants were not usable and fire suppression is limited to water carried on fire trucks and mutual aid. The city said replacing the tower would be costly and that their alternative plan would serve as a water reserve to support fire protection and normal service.
