Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves wellhead protection ordinance to enable new municipal well
Summary
Council approved ordinance creating wellhead protection districts that set inner (≈400 ft) and outer (≈1,200 ft) zones with restrictions on high‑risk uses; the ordinance has DNR approval and is intended to allow a new well to be drilled.
The Judiciary Administration Committee unanimously approved ordinance 25‑1268 on Nov. 4 to create wellhead protection districts intended to safeguard La Crosse’s drinking‑water supply and enable the utility to proceed with drilling a new well.
Superintendent Gribon explained the ordinance implements state guidance and creates multiple wellhead protection areas — each well would have an inner, more restrictive zone roughly 400 feet from the wellhead, and a broader zone extending roughly 1,200 feet where heavier industrial activities (dry‑cleaning operations, gas stations, sludge pits) would be limited. He said the Board of Public Works reviewed the plan and the Wisconsin DNR has approved it in principle; the utility needs the protection districts in place to proceed with a planned new well.
Council had no substantive questions beyond clarifying the zone distances. Council Member Stein moved to approve, seconded by Council President Dickinson; the ordinance passed unanimously in committee and will go to the common council.
