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Pawnee City council to pursue water-system upgrades, approves new rates and deposit changes
Summary
After receiving a preliminary engineering report, the council voted to submit a Water & Wastewater Advisory Committee pre-application to pursue a new municipal well, water-main replacements, additional generators and meter upgrades and approved two ordinances changing water rates and deposits effective Oct. 1, 2024.
Mayor Charlie Hatfield and the Pawnee City Council voted Sept. 23 to pursue multiple water-system improvements after a presentation of a preliminary engineering report and approved ordinance changes to water rates and deposits that take effect Oct. 1, 2024.
Tyler Keenan of engineering firm JEO presented the Water Preliminary Engineering Report prepared by Leah Boudreau, saying the city’s estimated water demand is 83 gallons per minute — roughly 120 gallons per day per person — and that Pawnee City’s three production wells date to 1956, 1966 and 1977. Keenan said only Well No. 3 currently has backup generator capability and that Well No. 1 is experiencing drawdown problems that can allow air into the pump and make water appear cloudy. He described a range of alternatives from replacing or adding a new municipal supply well, to water-main replacements, additional well generators, and radio-read meter replacements. He said the most expensive option — connecting to a nearby system — has a rough cost estimate of $6.5 million.
The council voted unanimously to submit a pre-application to the Nebraska Water & Wastewater Advisory Committee (WWAC) including alternatives: a new municipal supply well (option 1), water-main replacements (options 3A–3D), additional well generators (option 4), and meter replacement with radio reads (option 5). Keenan will also submit a well site application to the state as a next step.
Council members also approved on second reading Ordinance No. 1065, amending section 3-118 to change water rates, and Ordinance No. 1066, amending section 3-102 on water deposits. In both cases the council voted to suspend the usual three-reading requirement so the changes take effect Oct. 1, 2024, to align with the next water billing cycle and the start of the fiscal year.
Why this matters: the PER frames near-term needs (generators, meter upgrades, and targeted main replacements) and longer-term choices that carry significantly different price tags and funding timelines. Keenan told the council it is easier to include multiple alternatives on the WWAC pre-application and later select the more feasible mix based on cost and funding availability.
What’s next: the city will submit the WWAC pre-application and the state well-site application; council and staff will refine which alternatives to pursue based on cost estimates and funding opportunities.
