Board delays decision on $3 million Cattail Pond relining pending more investigation
Summary
Directors asked staff for further due diligence on reports of leaching at Cattail Pond before approving about $3 million for design and construction of a full liner; staff was asked to investigate monitoring-well data and return with findings.
Pueblo West board members deferred action on a proposed relining of Cattail Pond after questions about the evidence for groundwater leaching and a call for more diligence.
At a work session, staff presented a plan to line the unlined half of Cattail Pond and to coordinate that work with a golf-course intake rebuild. The staff estimate for design and construction was $3,000,000, and the earliest construction window offered was early 2026.
Sherry Reid, speaking for Robert Bannum, said “The cost is 3,000,000, and that includes the construction and the design.” Reid said about half of the pond currently has a Bentonite liner and staff are designing a nonpotable pipeline from LS1 to the pond so the pond can be drained and relined while coördinating contractor work at the golf course.
Directors expressed concern that staff had not presented site investigation results to show that leaching is occurring. One director urged installing monitoring wells below the pond to verify leaks before committing millions to relining. Staff acknowledged that monitoring-well data had not been provided to the work session and said they would research that and report back.
After the exchange, staff and several board members agreed to remove the item from the immediate agenda and return it to a future report meeting after the requested due diligence. No funding authorization or contract award was made at the work session.
