Where Do We Go Now?

By Gordon HopkinsThe initial test results for water from a proposed alternative water source look promising. However, more steps are required before the Water Sourcing Project can go forward. FJN recently spoke to representatives of the Little Blue NRD (Natural Resources District) to discuss what those next steps are. The purpose of the Water Sourcing Project is to locate a new, lower-nitrate water source for both the Little Blue NRD (Natural Resources District) and the City of Fairbury. In July, 2021, the city entered into an interlocal agreement with Little Blue NRD (Natural Resources District) to cost share in a project to identify a new water source with nitrates ranging in the 0-3ppm (parts per million) range, under the LBVWS (Little Blue Valley Water Systems) entity. There are four board members in that entity, two of them representing the City of Fairbury, and two of them representing Little Blue NRD. Those board members are: Scott Nelson, General Manager – Little Blue NRD; Kevin Orvis, Project Manager – Little Blue NRD; Robert Messbarger, City Administrator, City of Fairbury; Erin Reimer, City Clerk, City of Fairbury.Test ResultsMiller & Associates Consulting Engineers PC, an engineering firm that operates in Nebraska and Kansas, has prepared a full report on the result. The results have not yet been presented to the Fairbury City Council. Mary Renn, Project Manager, told FJN, “Miller & Associates shared a powerpoint presentation at the LBNRD Board Meeting on April 12; however, has not yet presented that information to the council (yet to be scheduled).” All five wells tested less than the goal of three ppm for nitrates. As for other chemicals and minerals in the water, Orvis said, “There’s less minerals in the water. it’s a softer water, than you have in Fairbury.”Next StepsA number of landowners near the proposed wellfield have expressed concern that pumping may affect their own wells. Susan Thomas, representing a family farming operation to the north and east of the proposed wellfield, wrote a letter to the Fairbury City Council earlier this year that said, in part, “The proposed well field will undoubtedly deplete water from this spring-fed habitat, contrary to the very spirit of conservation.”“We are aware of the opposition. Yes. And we’re trying to address their concerns as we go,” said Nelson. “We’re looking to hire an outside engineering firm, to do a groundwater model to determine impacts of any to nearby wells.”Orvis added, “That’s supposed to answer anybody’s questions about drawdowns.”Nelson indicated they would not be using Miller and Associates, “We’re getting a proposal from Leonard Rice Engineering. They’re headquartered out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. So, we’re going with somebody who has not been involved with the project.”Nelson said, “The new model is going to be more precise. It’s going to take into account our wells running, the irrigation wells running, during the summer, actual recharge of rainfall.”Owner of the Proposed Well SiteA prospective location for the new wells has been identified approximately four miles south of Daykin. A series of test wells were drilled and the water obtained from those wells tested. The route of the pipeline to feed the water to Fairbury would be about 14 miles.That property belongs to William (Bill) Glenn, Vice-Chairman of the Little Blue NRD board.In her letter, Susan Thomas wrote, “We are concerned that there has been a lack of transparency throughout this project regarding the apparent conflict of interest and private financial gain to be made by an elected official, Mr. Bill Glenn.”FJN has reviewed the minutes of Little Blue NRD board meetings when the Water Sourcing Project was discussed. William Glenn voted “Yes” on April 13, 2021, to approve the interlocal agreement with the City of Fairbury. This would have been before his property was selected as the location for the wells. Glenn abstained when the board voted on land acquisition on October 12 and November 9, 2021. FJN has not learned that any conflict of interest has taken place.Nelson said, “To date, we only paid him $5,000 to drill the test wells.”If the project moves forward, LBVWS will need to secure the land rights from Glenn.Use of the WaterThe new wells are not intended to be the exclusive source of drinking water for Fairbury. Nelson said, “They’ll be primary but we’ve been told the East three East walls of February will still be in operation and able to provide water during the peak times during the summer.”According to Nelson, that water will be blended with the lower nitrate water to ensure the overall nitrate content remains below the required 10 ppm.

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