Public Hearing Requirement for USDA Financial Application
Public Comment Period beginning April 1st and ending 4:00 pm April 13th, 2020
Exhibit #1: The Little Blue Public Water Project purchases it’s water from the City of Fairbury. As noted on the CCR reports from 2016, 2017, and 2018 the nitrate values have ranged from 9.84 to 10.4 ppm. Federal maximum contaminant level for this regulated contaminant is 10.0 ppm.
Exhibit #2: Nitrate values for 2018 on Alexandria’s CCR was 1.91 ppm. Further, nitrate values from the Public Water Supply report for municipal well G-130328 from 2005 to 2018 never exceeded 2.11. Municipal wells G-065396 and G-047657 are planned to be or have been abandoned.
Exhibit #3: Cost of water over time from Fairbury has risen from $1.063 to $3.42 per thousand gallons. The base fee on the water project from 2015 to 2019 was increased for households by $2.00 and $2.50 per month. The base fee is calculated to cover fixed costs; employee wages, insurance, etc. The cost of water has risen for those households using over 10,000 gallons by $2.50 and $3.00 per thousand. This increase is calculated to cover the variable costs; cost of water, electricity, repairs, etc.
Exhibit #4: The Rural Water Project uses a rate calculator developed by Nebraska Rural Water Association staff to determine what our rates should be. They developed an estimate using this calculator, if the Project purchases water from Alexandria, for what an estimated rate per thousand might be. Their calculations put that price at $0.91 per thousand gallons.
Exhibit #5: Because of the questions of quality and price the Project asked their engineer to develop a Preliminary Engineering report with alternatives to procure water from a different source than Fairbury. The project is pursuing his recommendations of purchasing water from Alexandria or developing two new wells for our own use in the Alexandria area. The loan application to USDA Rural Development would be used to fund either of those possibilities.
Because of the coronavirus concern limiting attendance at public meetings written response to this application will be taken in lieu of oral testimony. Public comments related to this application can be filed with the District by mail to Little Blue NRD, PO Box 100, Davenport, NE, 68335 or through e-mail to lbnrd@littlebluenrd.org. Comments will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 13th, 2020. Public questions concerning the application should be directed to the District office in Davenport at 1 402 364-2145.