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Council expresses concern over Farmers Union Co-op request for 4" water tap to supply 30,000 gpd
Summary
Foreman Spencer Cumley reported Farmer’s Union Co-op sought a 4" water tap to supply roughly 30,000 gallons per day for a 6–8 week period; council members expressed concern about strain on potable supply and retained control to shut service off during drought, concluding the tap as proposed would not be in the community's best interest without stronger guarantees.
Foreman Spencer Cumley briefed the council on a request from Farmer’s Union Co-op to install a 4" water tap at a new elevator site north of town. Cumley said the Co-op expects to use approximately 30,000 gallons per day for a six-to-eight-week period each year to fill sprayers; the base fee for a 4" meter would be roughly $1,400 monthly plus usage charges. Cumley and Clerk Curtis raised concerns that the demand would draw on the city’s potable water supply during times when drought could cause shortages.
Cumley offered an alternative—installing a pump pit, storage tank and flow system to allow use of treated discharge or nonpotable storage for sprayer fills—so the city would not supply drinkable water for agricultural spraying. Council members expressed that allowing the Co-op unrestricted access to 30,000 gpd for the annual period could jeopardize community supply and voted informally to avoid approving such a tap without clear operational controls; they emphasized the city must retain authority to curtail large withdrawals during drought or well loss.
