Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Systems topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gates County commissioners approve $349,000 package to repair water system, amid ongoing fluoride testing and debate
Summary
After months of testing and public concern over elevated fluoride, the Gates County Board of Commissioners approved $349,000 in unbudgeted work covering SCADA replacement, pumps and meter project closeout. The vote followed extended discussion and a 4-1 tally.
Gates County commissioners voted 4–1 on April 16 to approve a budget amendment that commits roughly $349,000 in county funds to a package of public-utility repairs and equipment replacements aimed at stabilizing the county’s water system.
The amendment covers a new SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) controller to replace aging control hardware, replacement submersible pumps for wells, and the remaining work needed to complete an automatic meter replacement project. County manager Scott Sauer and staff described the work as necessary to restore reliable control of wells and to finish meter installs to support a planned move from bimonthly to monthly billing.
The item drew extended discussion. Commissioner Dave Forsyth said he had received the proposal only that morning and objected to approving a large unbudgeted expenditure on short notice. Forsyth said he wanted more time to review competing quotes and questioned whether the board was being “bum-rushed.” Commissioner Nathan Berryman and others said the county has experienced repeated equipment failures and alarms and needs the upgrades to manage the three wells independently and to reduce manual responses to alarms.
Brad (staff member), who has been managing the county’s water operations, told the board the SCADA upgrades and pump replacements are designed to increase well capacity and reliability. “Yes, sir. To increase pass capacity is the reason for well 1. It will go from 320 gallons a minute to 520 gallons a minute, which is what we need at this point in time,” Brad said. He also described the meter-closeout work as necessary to resolve multiple installer errors (wrong orientation, wrong serial numbers, some meters reporting neighbor usage) and said a contractor, G2 Utilities, has been identified to perform on-the-ground verification of meter installs.
The discussion was tightly linked to the county’s continuing work to address elevated fluoride levels in drinking water. Commissioners heard results from aggressive well testing and partial well rehabilitation that county staff and outside consultants — including Dr. Spruill — have been conducting. County staff reported that some recent spot samples for individual wells have trended lower (Brad reported readings “about like a 1.2” milligrams per liter at one well), but commissioners and staff agreed the causes are not fully understood and the county must continue testing and infrastructure work. Commissioner Forsyth pushed for immediate mitigation for children, proposing a separate motion to buy bulk bottled water for schoolchildren under age 8; that motion failed for lack of a second.
County manager Sauer said the meter project had taken longer than expected and that earlier procurement and contracting decisions were driven by rapid response needs and earlier transitional issues in county administration. Sauer said the county had rejected initial informal pricing, then pursued a formal procurement for the meter work, and that the latest package reflects final closeout pricing and emergency equipment replacement needs.
After debate, the board voted 4 in favor and 1 opposed (Forsyth) to approve the $349,000 package drawn from county funds. Commissioners did not specify an immediate source other than a board-approved budget amendment; staff said the work was time-sensitive and that upgrades are needed to maintain service and to support the meter billing transition.
Why it matters: The county’s water system has recorded elevated fluoride readings in past years and the issue has generated public concern. Commissioners balanced the need for immediate technical fixes to wells, pumps and controls against requests from some members for more time and bids. The vote commits county funds to repairs and the meter closeout; staff said the purchased work should reduce alarms and allow more flexible operation of wells.
What’s next: Staff said they will proceed with the SCADA replacement, pump installs and the meter verification work and will continue the intensified sampling regimen and consultations with Dr. Spruill. The board also approved a separate, unanimous motion to engage a contractor to repair outstanding line cuts and backfills at the county’s direction (see “Votes at a glance” article for the motion record).
