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Garden City board approves connecting Plant Facilities to city water; several routine motions also pass
Summary
Garden City USD 457 voted to connect its Plant Facilities site to city water after a KDHE inspection prompted staff to seek alternatives to an unchlorinated well. The board also approved the consent agenda, accepted vehicle bids and voted to enter executive session on real property.
The Garden City USD 457 Board of Education voted to connect its Plant Facilities complex to the city water supply after staff said a Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) inspector told district officials a site with more than 25 people using a private well may be considered a public water supply and should be registered and monitored.
Director of Plant Facilities Brandon Anderson told the board the current well is not chlorinated and not used for drinking. He said the city’s fee to set a 1‑inch meter is $3,420 and presented two contractor quotes included in the packet: $4,937 from RJ Plumbing and $8,997 from Petro. “If we were to put Plant Facilities on city water…you’d be looking at roughly $8,500 about to get it up and going and ready,” Anderson said.
An unidentified board member moved to proceed using the lower quote and the motion was seconded; the board approved the motion by voice/hand vote. Anderson estimated the district’s non‑drinking use at the site would likely max at about 5,000 gallons per month, noting an approximate annual cost to the district of roughly $1,200 when city fees and outside‑city surcharges are included.
Votes at a glance
• Agenda approved as amended — motion moved and seconded; carried by voice/hand vote. • Consent agenda approved — motion moved and seconded; carried by voice/hand vote. • Connect Plant Facilities to city water (staff to use lower quote) — motion moved and seconded; carried by voice/hand vote. • Accept vehicle bids from Lewis Chevrolet (two pickups) — motion moved and seconded; carried by voice/hand vote. • Move to executive session (preliminary discussion of real property acquisition) — motion moved and seconded; carried; 15 minutes beginning at 9:05 p.m.
The board’s approvals were routine and used the standard motion/second/voice vote process; the meeting also included a range of presentations on school programs, facilities and insurance that did not require immediate board action.
Next steps and context
Staff will proceed to contract under the quote threshold provided and work with city staff to install the meter and make connection arrangements. The decision follows the KDHE inspector’s suggestion that wells serving more than 25 people be registered and subject to monitoring, and reflects the board’s preference to move the facility to a chlorinated, centrally managed water source.
The board will consider further capital and maintenance priorities — including roofs, HVAC and fire‑alarm work at several schools — during upcoming budget and planning sessions.
