City Council discusses drinking water supply options

LAUREL – The Laurel City Council heard an update on July 10 about potential options to improve the community’s drinking water supply.

Roger Protzman, senior project engineer for the JEO Consulting Group, discussed the city’s two drinking water wells with council members during the meeting.

Laurel City Administrator Mark McCoy noted a concern with one of the wells there has been a rising nitrate level, while the level of selenium has been an issue in the past with the other well.

“Both are considered safe for consumption at this time,” he said of the drinking water from the community’s wells.

McCoy added the city has been working with JEO Consulting for at least the past year on trying to help resolve the community’s drinking water issues.

Council members discussed several options for potentially improving the city’s drinking water supply, but made no decision on any of the following ideas: - Continuing the search for another well site in the Laurel area.

- Hooking on to the Wau-Col Regional Water System.

- Building a water treatment plant.

In other business, the council approved the following building permits: - Erica Vasquez: 10-by-12-foot metal storage shed.

- Rachel Droppers: 16-by-23foot carport, 65-by-53-foot wooden fence, 16.25-by-23.5-foot concrete pad for carport, 20-by-10-foot rear patio and 18-by-30-foot front parking pad.

- Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School: Electronic display pole sign or two electronic displays on northwest corner of exterior walls of new gym and variance for sign.

- Chris Gallegos: 175-foot fence.