County discusses pump house, wells and water upgrades for fairgrounds and RV park

County staff updated commissioners on planned water‑system work at the county fairgrounds and adjacent RV park, covering completed well repairs, testing and permitting requirements, a proposed pump house, decommissioning of an old well and grant funding priorities for domestic water upgrades.

Maintenance staff reported the original domestic well now tests at about 20 gallons per minute and that the county plans three wells at the site: two domestic wells and one irrigation well. “The well is fixed. That well only pumps... it's only good for, like, 20 gallons per minute,” a staff member explained. Staff said adding a second domestic well with a variable‑frequency drive and coordinating tanks should produce roughly 60–70 gallons per minute combined for domestic service; the larger irrigation well would remain separate with a larger pump.

County staff said the state Department of Health reviewed the pump‑house design and indicated the county would not be required to hire an engineer for the proposed layout, provided proper backflow and check valves are used. Staff also described decommissioning requirements for a 27‑foot well below a house and options for filling the vault; the contractor bids for decommissioning were being solicited.

Estimated costs discussed included a pump house building in the $250,000–$350,000 range to construct and to connect domestic service, and staff discussed grant priorities. The county can apply for multiple grant priorities; staff recommended prioritizing water‑line upgrades (domestic distribution) over other items, noting the construction cost of a pump house would be significantly higher.

Commissioners and staff discussed next steps: laboratory testing for nitrates and pesticide (IOC) testing, selecting decommissioning contractors, and deciding which grant priorities to submit. Staff noted limits on permits (two domestic wells under their current permits) and the need to coordinate test sampling and grant applications. If funded, the upgrades would reduce reliance on temporary hoses and improve service for fairground tenants and RV park users.