Assembly OKs $1M to fix seasonal park water meters after cross‑contamination concerns

The Fairbanks North Star Borough approved a $1,000,000 reappropriation on Nov. 13 to retrofit or close seasonal water‑meter connections at 19 borough park sites after a 2024 determination that many installations did not meet cross‑contamination prevention requirements.

Public Works and Parks & Recreation staff said the work will move most meter connections above ground, add backflow prevention devices and protective cages, and install bollards to protect equipment. The project will close or consolidate locations no longer used and prioritize sites that serve youth athletic fields; staff said six of the affected meters supply fields used for youth sports.

Anthony Smith, president of the volunteer-run Interior Baseball League, told the assembly that inability to use water at several fields forced organizers to rent water trucks for tournaments, an expense he put at about $5,000 per weekend. "Without these updates to the seasonal water systems, we are unable to use any water at these fields," Smith said, describing impacts on infield maintenance and league play.

Public Works staff said Golden Heart Utilities and state requirements prompted the work; Golden Heart will not allow reinstallation until cross‑contamination risks are mitigated. The administration described the $1,000,000 figure as an engineer’s estimate provided by a design consultant and said work will be contracted out. Assembly members asked for a prioritization plan and schedule; staff committed to provide site prioritization (with youth athletic fields called out as high priority) when contracting is complete.

The ordinance carried by unanimous roll call vote. Staff noted options other than retrofit — including abandoning sites or installing holding tanks — were discussed but would eliminate water access to those parks.