Task force tapped to solve city's water woes
By:
Jamie Hult, Staff writer
Brandon’s newly-named water task force gathered Nov. 9 to begin the daunting task of determining the city’s water system needs, but that meeting was postponed when city alderman and task force chair Don Wells was informed en route to the meeting that the council had not officially given the group the green light.
While the formation of the task force got a first and a second at the council’s Nov. 6 meeting, ensuing discussion appeared to distract the council and Mayor Larry Beesley from finalizing the motion by voting “all in favor, say aye.”
The task force instead met Nov. 14 following a vote of the council in a Nov. 13 special session.
The list of 24 residents who expressed interest in serving on the volunteer committee was narrowed to 13 and made public last week.
They are Wells, city administrator Bryan Read, city engineer Paul Sanow, a Stockwell Engineers representative, and 13 Brandon residents: Todd Anawski, Chad Campbell, Kim Cerwick, Patrick Deering, Pat Hammond, Mindy Hansen, Jason Kjenstad, Kim Kremlacek, Angie Nemmers, Trudy Papka, Kevin Smith, Tim Wakefield and Amanda Viau.
The water task force will look at Brandon’s water quality, quantity, sources and infrastructure and present recommendations to the city council on water sources and projects.
“The city’s vision is to include the community in this process. There are 100 different ways we can go at this. I’m going into this with an open mind, and I hope everybody does the same. I’m not absolutely sure we need to follow ‘XYZ’ path,” Wells said.
The first meeting’s agenda will include a review of the city’s current water system and test results from water obtained from wells 3, 6 and 7 and establishing a mission statement. Each meeting will last one hour and end with an objective for the following meeting, Wells said.
In upcoming months, the city plans to invite hydrogeology experts who have studied the Splitrock and Big Sioux aquifers, from which the city currently sources its water, who will share data with the task force.
“We’re going to be building our foundation of knowledge and wrapping our heads around this,” Wells said. “Let’s face it – the information we present to the council is going to be weighted and educated, and I will be your biggest fan when it comes to council meetings and presenting that information.”
The dates and times of water task force meetings will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Meetings will be open to the public.
