Lagoon project awaiting DEQ permits

The Saratoga Water and Sewer Joint Powers Board (water and sewer board) met for a “record” short meeting Wednesday, staying in session for a mere 11 minutes before adjourning.

During the meeting, the board dispensed with routine matters before hearing reports on projects of interest to the board, specifically the lagoon improvement project. The board was also filled in on the status of a grant application for a Level I water system survey.

Jon Winter, Saratoga town manager, discussed the lagoon improvement project with the board and asked the board to vote to request a drawdown from the State Loan and Improvement Board, or SLIB board, for $5,927.52. That money will go to the engineering firm designing the lagoon improvement, Element Engineering of Colorado.

The design work is mostly done, Winter said, but the town is currently waiting for permits from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) before installation and construction of the lagoon improvements begin.

The permits are expected to be issued as early as this week, Winter said.

Once the permits are in-hand, the town will put the project out for bids from contractors. The board cannot solicit bids on the project until the DEQ permits are received, Winter said.

Winter also told the water and sewer board that an application for a Level I water system survey from Wyoming Water Development is in the works. The Wyoming Water Development board will consider the grant application for $175,000 at its upcoming session Nov. 2-3.

The Wyoming Water Development Program is intended to develop the municipal water systems within the state. According to the agency, Level I and Level II grants are intended to study a water system and develop a plan to improve the system to meet current and future needs.

A Level III grant, if issued, would cover construction and implementation of the improvements developed under levels I and II.

The next scheduled meeting of the water and sewer board is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 8 at Saratoga Town Hall.