Committee forwards Monroe wellhead protection ordinance to City Council

The Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee voted to forward a finalized wellhead protection ordinance to the City Council after staff said the draft has been updated to align with the city's code.

A presenter told the committee, "This plan is put is we're trying to put in place so that we can protect the well sources that the City Of Monroe has." The presenter said the draft translates an existing protection plan into ordinance form so the city can legally define prohibited activities within protection radii around the city's water-supply wells; the presenter also said the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) prefers such plans be codified into local ordinance.

A staff member said the version in the meeting packet is the "final" draft, explaining it was adapted from an external sample and modified to "jive with our account with our code." The committee then approved a motion to forward the ordinance to the City Council. The motion was made by the clerk, seconded by the chair, and passed by roll-call vote with four "Aye" votes; the committee recorded no opposing votes.

The ordinance as presented intends to establish regulatory radii around the city's five wells and to specify activities restricted within those zones; the committee did not alter the draft before forwarding it. The item will next appear on the City Council agenda for formal consideration.