This story was reported by Lisa Mills.
Des Arc officials are seeking grant funding to replace two aging water wells as the city considers its future water needs.
Water Department employee Cecil Winsett told the City Council at its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, that he is working on a grant that could help replace wells 3 and 4 or construct a new well. The existing wells have been in use since 1974 and 1991.
“It is impossible to get parts to work on them when something goes wrong, and the cost of a new well is about $1.5 million, which the city doesn’t have,” Winsett said.
He also reported that White River Energetics is projecting it could need as much as 1 million gallons of water per day. He said the city does not have the capacity to provide that amount of water and the company would need its own well.
Winsett said company officials have indicated the city previously agreed to provide the additional water, but city officials have been unable to locate documentation of such an agreement. He said additional research would be needed.
Grant Administrator Gail King discussed $869,000 in federal funding for improvements to the city’s wastewater infrastructure and treatment facility. The funding was requested by U.S. Sen. John Boozman as part of congressionally directed spending.
King said the city is also working on an application for an Emerging Contaminants grant of up to $1.5 million through the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.
In other business, Gas Department employee Caleb Hale reported bids are being accepted for a gas meter at North Prairie.
Hale said the city had received several reports of the smell of natural gas around Cornerstone, and city employees also detected the odor while repairing water leaks. Two gas leaks were subsequently located and repaired.
The council also approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into a consent administrative order with the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment’s Division of Environmental Quality.
Work has also begun on energy-efficiency and environmental improvements to City Hall.
The council approved paying Craig Treadwell an additional $50 per week for mowing and maintaining the old cemetery.
