Council approves budget amendment and contract for Zone 4 water-tank dome replacement after EPA concern

The Laramie City Council unanimously approved a fiscal-year 2026 budget amendment and contract award tied to replacement of the Zone 4 water-tank dome, responding to recommendations from an engineering review and the tank manufacturer and to a recent EPA notice of concern.

Director Webb told the council engineers and the tank manufacturer concluded the roof dome should be replaced and that grout injection would address cracking in the concrete base. Webb described a two-part approach: complete replacement of the dome and a separate grout-fill contract to seal and lift depressed sections of the concrete foundation. "The recommendation from the engineer and the tank manufacturer is to basically replace the roof dome, completely," Webb said. The dome will be manufactured off-site and installed in May, Webb said, and staff expect it to be ready in May.

Councilors asked whether residents would experience service interruptions during installation. Webb said the city has a plan to push water from Zone 1 into Zone 4 during the brief outage window and does not anticipate interruption of service. He also said the dome carries a 20-year warranty and that typical tank lifespans can approach 50 years; a full tank replacement was estimated in discussion at about $3,000,000. Webb noted the tank sits on state land and that staff had not explored wind-blocking measures for the site.

Councilor Bowling moved to approve Resolution 2025-96, the associated budget amendment, and a contract with Great Plains Structures LLC for the work; the motion passed by roll call, 9–0. Staff said the notice of concern from EPA increased the priority and speed of repairs.

The council did not receive public comment on the item. Staff did not provide a detailed funding breakdown in the discussion; the motion recorded a contract figure of $568,400 and referenced a contingency amount that was unclearly stated on the record.