Rawlins council authorizes nearly $7.8 million emergency grant application to repair water system

The Rawlins City Council voted to authorize submission of an emergency mineral royalty grant to the Wyoming State Land Investment Board to repair the city's water service delivery system and address a recent catastrophic failure.

Vice Mayor Jacqueline Wells moved that the council "approve and authorize the submission of an emergency mineral royalty grant through the Wyoming State Land Investment Board for the City of Rawlins, Wyoming Water Service Delivery System in the amount of $7,797,716," and the motion carried with five ayes and no nays.

Council members and staff described the failure as serious: "the city suffered a catastrophic failure of the water supply system on March 3," a council member said, noting the urgency behind pursuing emergency funding. Staff and outside partners assembled an extensive application (described in the meeting as about 476 pages) and said it would be submitted before the board meets on April 7.

An unidentified presenter laid out the scope and four-phase plan for repairs, saying work would include cathodic protection, rehabilitation of a steel transmission line, replacement of wood-stave pipelines and spring boxes, and the replacement of a 20-inch ductile iron main. The presenter estimated the total project cost at about $11 million, with the city contributing roughly $3 million toward the work.

Council members pressed on uncertainties. One asked whether the work covered by the SLIB application would fully resolve the system problems or if a parallel line costing tens of millions would still be necessary; the presenter replied that the need for additional, larger projects depends on the effectiveness of cathodic protection and other findings during repairs.

Council members also discussed the city's prior, denied emergency application and how SLIB had requested evidence of local financial contribution and water-rate changes. Staff said the city has set aside more than $3 million from ARPA and other funds to show local commitment and that the council would need to consider water-rate questions as part of a longer-term financing strategy. Staff also said the city is exploring USDA grant options and expects to bring a related resolution to a future meeting.

Mayor Terry Wycomb relayed praise from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and local partners, saying an EPA official told him the response "was nothing less than phenomenal," and he thanked utility crews, Sunrise Engineering and other regional partners for rapid work to restore service.

The council approved the motion to submit the SLIB grant application by voice and confirmed the outcome; it then moved into an executive session under a cited Wyoming statute to consider confidential information.

Next steps: staff said the application would be submitted immediately and that the SLIB hearing is scheduled for April 7; the council will address longer-term funding and rate questions in upcoming meetings.