Rural water expansion project a go

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — Nobles County Commissioners gave their approval to Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water’s plan to expand rural water service to residents in the southern and western areas of the county during Tuesday morning’s board session.

The unanimous decision was made following a lengthy discussion that included testimony from two neighboring property owners — one who owns land adjacent to where the water metering site will be located, and one who resides in the vicinity of the site where the 1 million gallon water tower will be constructed.

Catherine Jones, of Sioux Falls, S.D., owns property adjacent to where a 20- by 28-foot building will be constructed to house water treatment equipment in the southwest quarter of Section 35, Indian Lake Township. She had requested that the building be moved further back, rather than parallel to her farm buildings, so that it would not be visible from the farm house.

Dennis Healy, CEO of Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water, said the plans have been altered since Jones made her request at the Nobles County Planning and Zoning meeting in late February, and that the building will be moved further back.

In regard to the 200-foot water tower, Pat Shorter said the location is too close to his property. He resides east of the tower site, which is in the east half of the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 22, Dewald Township.

“I believe it could be placed better than where it’s proposed to be placed,” Shorter told commissioners. “I think an increase in setback would be appropriate in this situation. We love our rural way of life — that was the reason for moving into the country.”

Shorter said a quarter of a mile away from his property would be an appropriate distance.

“The location of that tower is somewhat limited,” said Healy. “We want it on the highest piece of ground we can find. It has to be along the main line.

“As I go up and down that line, it appears I’m going to be someone’s neighbor,” Healy added. LPRW has opted to move the water tower as far south and west as is feasible to increase the distance between the tower and Shorter’s property.

Both Shorter and Jones also aired concerns about the lack of advanced notification about the rural water projects, saying it was a “back-door deal.” They learned of the proposals through the required 10-day legal notification printed before the planning and zoning public hearing.

As a firefighter, Shorter also spoke about a request he had made at the Planning and Zoning meeting regarding the placement of rural fire hydrants along the rural water line.

“Water and access to water is a huge struggle (for fire departments,” Shorter said. “I think (hydrants) should have been built into this plan.”

Healy said hydrants will be located both at the water tower site and at the pump station site, which will be located in the northeast quarter of Section 27, Bigelow Township.

In other action, the board:

l Approved a conditional use permit for Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water to construct a water booster and storage site in the northeast quarter of Section 33, Larkin Township.

l Approved the Joint Powers Agreement with the Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System to guarantee the debt service issued for the rural water expansion project in Nobles County.

l Revisited a request to hire a 4-H summer assistant in Nobles County. Regional Extension Director Holli Arp said she had met with both the Extension committee and the 4-H board of directors to discuss options, and they decided that the best option was to hire a summer intern.

Arp said the program offered through the Private Industry Council was discussed, as was an idea to develop a Green Team, a team of youths that could volunteer specifically during county fair time.

“It wouldn’t serve all the pieces, but it would help,” said Arp. “It would offer youth another leadership experience.”

Commissioners said they will discuss the request further at their board retreat on Tuesday, and would make a decision at the April 7 board meeting.

l Granted a conditional use permit for R&R Thier Feedlot of Rushmore to expand a feedlot from more than 1,000 animal units to 5,000 animal units, and to install a 475-by-350-by-11-foot deep earthen runoff retention basin in the northwest quarter of Section 26, Olney Township.

l Approved a conditional use permit for Justin Gaarder of Worthington to operate a gun repair and sales business from his home in the north half of the southeast quarter of Section 6, Bigelow Township.

l Accepted a grant agreement for $84,388 for a Local Road Improvement Project for Rural Road Safety. The money will be used for a bituminous overlay of County State Aid Highway 6 for paving of two feet of the gravel shoulder.

l Approved the advertisement for bids on several bituminous surfacing projects planned in Nobles County this year. The bids will be opened April 20, with the bid to be awarded at the April 21 county board meeting.

l Approved an agreement with the City of Round Lake to include its bituminous surfacing work with Nobles County’s contract.

l Approved a $1,500 request for sponsorship of the Bioscience Conference April 2-3 in Worthington.

l Approved an application for a set-up permit and an on-sale liquor license for Prairie View Golf Links in rural Worthington.

l Approved a contract with the Department of Corrections for the Institution-Community Work Crew program. There are seven inmates in the Nobles County Jail who participate in the program and help to remodel or refurbish low-income houses in the county.

l Discussed the possibility of applying for a COPS grant that would allow the sheriff’s department to hire an additional deputy. The grant provides for three years of employment, followed by a minimum requirement of one year of employment by the county.

Commissioner Diane Thier cited concerns over the budget situation in three years, and whether or not the county would be able to fund the position after the grant expires.

Board members said they will discuss the grant further during their work session next Tuesday.

l Learned that the six counties of southwest Minnesota will apply for a grant to fund a study on the feasibility of consolidating the 911 and dispatch systems.

Tags: state and region, lincoln pipestone rural water, news, agriculture, noblescountycommissioners