Williams County commissioners on June 17 approved two items related to Northwest Rural Water infrastructure and a building purchase.

The board granted permission for Northwest Rural Water to install parallel lines to bring water to Carvel and areas south of County Road 1804. County highway staff explained some installations will be bored and some open cut and that work will take place in county easements; landowner permission is required where the owner retains title to the road centerline. "Parallel with the road, and they go in our easement, plus they have to have landowner permission," a county highway staff member said.

Separately, county staff seeking to purchase a building said they need to execute a standard landowner contract with Northwest Rural Water to provide water to the new county facility. Helen, county staff, said legal counsel advised the water contract required separate authorization even though the board previously authorized signatures related to the property purchase; she asked the board to authorize the chairman to sign the Northwest Rural Water contract.

Both requests were moved, seconded and approved by roll call. Commissioners recorded Mary, Steve, Corey, Beau, Chris and Barry voting yes.

What happens next: Northwest Rural Water will coordinate bores and open cuts with county highway crews and landowners; county staff will execute the landowner contract to bring water to the purchased building.