Manitou Springs City Council’s main topic at the Tuesday, Aug. 2, was a presentation on updating the local water system from Deputy City Administrator Roy Chaney and John McGinn, a representative of JDS-HYDRO Consultants.
“A lot of these issues developed over 20-plus years, with a lot of deferred maintenance and some temporary fixes that just won’t do any more,” Chaney said. “We did produce quality water, but it’s time to tackle these issues.”
JDS-HYDRO inspected the water treatment plant and devised regular maintenance schedules for the city’s infrastructure.
McGinn then presented the analysis by his company, which is Colorado Springs-based and specializes in municipal water and wastewater systems. He explained that the process began in late April and, working with city staff, focused on the most urgent needs: the city reservoir and the water-filter plant.
“Out of this, we’ll be developing a longer capital improvement plan that you guys will be able to look at and decide on where you want to go for the next several years,” he said.
Manitou’s 1970s-era dam was last upgraded in the 1990s, but a state inspector found it to be structurally sound.
The water treatment plant’s disinfection chlorination system will be upgraded and plant controls will be improved, probably in 2023. The city has also hired operators with more experience to augment the staff.
“We’re going to have a longer-term plan, where you’ll have a two- to five-year window of the more major things that need to be done,” McGinn said.
Piping will be upgraded to negate the effects of backwashing, filters will be modified and water storage under the plant will be improved.
JDS-HYDRO has just started evaluating the distribution system. The city will need to comply with new state regulatory guidance for managing the types of pipe used in Manitou’s system.
“You’re currently meeting federal and state standards and you’re doing corrosion control, so you’re in compliance,” McGinn said, adding that the city will need to complete extensive surveys into what type of pipe is used by October 2024.
“The good news is that federal and state governments are throwing a lot of funding into this,” he said. “This is a nationwide issue.”
The state of Colorado has decided that mineral springs should be regulated as a separate water system. City staff will have to fill out more paperwork, but Manitou is already testing the springs at the state’s mandated level.
An operator in charge of the system has already been designated. McGinn doesn’t anticipate that the city will have to add any treatments or modify the springs in any way.
McGinn discussed the city’s hydro turbine generator, which is producing power on a daily basis. He said that JDS-HYDRO will work on how the plant can have greater control in off-hours for more efficient operation.
“We’re confident we have the team in place to take on these challenges, implement them and get things on track,” Chaney said.
“Fixing pipes is a forever problem,” Mayor John Graham said.
In answer to Councilor Nancy Fortuin’s question about this analysis, McGinn said that it’s an overview and he expects to deliver a comprehensive needs assessment and action plan in September.
City Administrator Denise Howell explained that the city has always had a five-year capital plan but that having consultants explain the needs will help ensure the city puts funding toward the most urgent needs.
Finance Director Becca Davis then explained how the city will be able to pay for these unanticipated expenses. She looked at the city’s water fund and found that the water treatment capital account line had $350,000 for the Mesa tank, which cannot be upgraded this year.
“So that’s $350,000 that wasn’t going to be spent this year,” Davis said, recommending that the funds be diverted for the urgent problems JDS-HYDRO has found.
“We will continue to look at funding,” including grants, Howell said.
Council also discussed the request for a major conditional-use permit for a wireless service facility on Higginbotham Road.
After Mayor Pro Tem John Shada pointed out some inaccuracies and oversights in the application, council voted to table the issue for now. It was scheduled for further discussion, tentatively in September.
Fire Chief John K. Forsett briefed councilors on his progress in acquiring an ambulance as the city moves to bring ambulance services in-house, with personnel and equipment in the fire station.
“I’m really thrilled about the price of the new vehicle and I’m also really thrilled to see that it’s a four-wheel drive, which we desperately need,” Councilor Judith Chandler said.
As Forsett explained, the ambulance is a demo that’s still being built on a Ford F-150 4×4 chassis on the production line. Because it’s a demonstration model, the city can buy it for $247,877; the original estimated price was $300,000.
“Our timing just happened to be right, and we’re one of several that wanted this. We were just in the contract phase before anybody else,” Forsett said.
The delivery date is approximately Dec. 1 this year, and Forsett estimated it could be in operation Jan. 1. Council approved the contract 6-0; Councilor Julie Wolfe joined the meeting later via Zoom.
Former Councilor Steve Bremner had emailed council his concerns about the city’s agreement to rebate taxes to the Cog Railway. He stated that the Cog had earned $5 million in its first year after closing for system-wide equipment upgrades.
“We need the Cog to pay their fair share of taxes,” Bremner wrote.
As is usual during the public comment period, council members did not respond.
City Council also approved adding Marcus Medina as a regular member on the Manitou Arts, Culture, and Heritage board.