What an ice view

by Joshua Wood When the One Percent Specific Purpose Sales and Use Tax (6th penny tax) appeared before voters on May 7, 2019 one of the projects listed for the Town of Saratoga included the rehabilitation of one of the municipality's water storage tanks. The need to either rehabilitate or replace one of two water storage tanks southwest of Saratoga is likely more evident now that winter has arrived. Due to the leaking of one water storage tank, a large amount of ice has formed on the side which was brought to the attention of the Saratoga Sun by a concerned resident. The Sun asked the Saratoga Town Council about the leak during their February 2 meeting. "It's fairly close to the top of our list and it's a project that, fortunately, we can fund with 6th penny money as well as, potentially, some Wyoming Water Development Commission money if we go through the appropriate application process," said Councilmember Jon Nelson, who serves as council representative to the Department of Public Works and the Saratoga-Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board (SCCIJPB). "We did a Level One study a year ago, year and a half ago. That identified the tank as a priority project. So, once you had the Level One done, typically you go to Level Two which is a feasibility analysis and then a Level Three, which is the project." According to Nelson, there had been discussion among the SCCIJPB about moving the leaking tank directly to Level Three. "I've also asked Mr. Winter to start taking the initial steps to figure out what exactly we're going to do for that tank," Nelson said. While rehabilitation of the tank appeared on the ballot nearly two years ago, Nelson stated that the Town of Saratoga and the SCCIJPB was looking at multiple options. In regards to rehabilitation of the tank, these included either disassembling and reassembling the tank in place with new gaskets and panel joints or installing an epoxy liner. The other option being examined was replacing the tank or moving it to a new location entirely. "It is certainly on our radar and now that some 6th penny money is coming in, I think we're one step closer to where we can undertake a project like that," said Nelson.