Ronan's water system gets thumbs-up

St. Luke will help offset impact

By Jennifer McBride

Leader Staff

The Ronan City Council heard from an engineer regarding potential water problems with the city's system, which must now accommodate the expansion taking place at St. Luke, but the city received initial approval of its system after St. Luke officials agreed to install an auxiliary power generator to help address potential water pressure problems.

At Monday night's meeting, the Council listened to a presentation by Shari Halloran of TD & H Engineering regarding the city's water system and related outflow. According to her, to meet Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and fire marshal requirements for the new St. Luke hospital expansion, the city needs to have a water tank capable of storing 675,000 gallons of water — enough for four hours of fire-fighting flow during peak water use time.

The city tank currently has space for 700,000 gallons of water. However, due to technical problems, the city tank only has an effective storage of 372,000 gallons.

The city sought a deviation permit from the DEQ, which was granted, meaning the city tank can be an exception to the rule. But the city is not only short on water storage, but also on water pressure. During a fire situation, the tank pressure could drop to levels considered too low. When water pressure gets below a critical level, it creates back flow. Instead of sending water out, water facets and hoses could actually syphon material in, potentially contaminating Ronan's drinking water.

However, Halloran said, the problem only affects three or four homes east of the storage tank, so DEQ officials said they will probably issue another deviation permit, but they may require that the city to install one-way back flow valves to stop potential contamination. The fire marshal also prefers a higher water flow pressure rate, but is willing to accept the current tank's limitations if St. Luke pays for an auxiliary power generator, which hospital officials have agreed to do.

Despite the potential water problems, the hospital expansion should be able to continue as planned.

"At the end of all of this, there's a light at the end of the tunnel," Halloran said.

After a second reading, the city council also approved an extension in jurisdiction for the Ronan police department, which would allow officers to respond to calls just outside city limits, when there's an emergency. The Council also discussed proposed pit bull legislation, although City Attorney James Raymond expressed doubts as to the legality of banning a specific breed of dog.

"I don't think the city's going to be able to make the breed go away," Raymond said. The council discussed using existing vicious dog and nuisance ordinances to deal with the problem of dangerous animals.

The Council then heard from Assistant Police Chief Art Walgren, who said the re-roofing of the police station should be finished by the end of the week. The police department also has purchased new door locks, which Walgren said will be installed shortly. The Council then approved one open container permit and some bills, which included money for replacing a swing. The swing had to be cut apart to rescue a child who was too old to fit in it and ended up getting stuck through the leg holes.