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Gates County moves to shore up water system as commissioners shift funds to replace failed well
Summary
County officials described plans to transfer funds earmarked for a campground sewer line to repair and replace Well No. 2, approve design and testing work, and deploy a temporary tank while seeking state loan and emergency approvals to expedite repairs.
Gates County leaders told the Board of Commissioners they will repurpose previously budgeted campground sewer funds and seek state loan support to replace a failing production well and stabilize the county water system.
County Manager Scott Sauer said state officials had granted tentative approval for a redesigned Well No. 2 that uses five intake screens to increase production. Sauer said the well replacement will raise the project estimate by about $100,779 and that staff proposed moving funds previously set aside for a campground sewer connection to cover the additional cost while pursuing a state revolving fund loan and final approvals.
Sauer described earlier decisions that freed the money: “since we had the ability to avoid spending the money on the campground sewer, you’ve freed that up, and we believe we can carefully use the other 100 and … it’s coming together quite nicely,” he said, noting the state has worked “hand in glove” with county staff and declared the county’s circumstances an emergency to speed the process.
As an interim step, Sauer said staff located a temporary tank for wastewater handling; during the presentation he described procuring a larger unit than expected and joked about the size confusion: “we’re getting a 10,000 gallon tank for free. Oh, 3,000. Okay. How did I get that mixed up?”
Sauer and utilities staff also highlighted recent operational improvements: replacement of roughly 25% of the county’s aging water meters, conversion from bi-monthly to monthly billing, and ongoing tracking of capital projects (including directional bores and a Gatesville transmission line estimated at roughly $1.9 million and $2.6 million respectively).
The manager said the replacement well design had received tentative sign-off but that final funding offers and the written letter of intent from the state could require a special meeting of the board to approve required resolutions once formal paperwork arrives. No formal action on the well was taken at the meeting; commissioners were informed the project will proceed once the funding and formal approvals are in hand.
What’s next: staff will continue work with the state project manager to finalize funding offers, advertise for bids on related infrastructure when authorized, and present any required resolutions to the board for formal approval.
