FEBRUARY 24, 2025|
Photo – Medicine Bow Town Council – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
The governing body of Medicine Bow has agreed to apply for a Wyoming Water Development Commission study.
During the February 10th Medicine Bow town council meeting, Public Works Director Brian Lashley said the Wyoming Water Development Commission is accepting applications from municipalities to perform a level one water master plan. Lashley explained that WWDC will pay to have a thorough evaluation done of the town’s water and sewer infrastructure, which hasn’t occurred for over 40 years. When completed, the water master plan will outline what improvements are needed to the town’s water system and possibly finance opportunities.
The City of Rawlins formally adopted its Wyoming Water Development Commission level one water master plan earlier this month. During the discussion, City Manager Tom Sarvey said the plan lists over $50 million worth of projects that should be addressed as soon as possible.
At the February 10th Medicine Bow town council meeting, Public Works Director Lashley said the application fee is $2,000. If Medicine Bow is selected to receive a level one water master plan, the Water Development Commission will spend roughly $150,000 of state money on the study. However, if the town is not chosen, the state agency will refund $1,750 of the $2,000 application fee.
Lashley said the phase one water master plan is good for ten years, giving the town a decade to fix any issues uncovered during the study.
The public works director admitted that the town isn’t guaranteed to be selected. However, considering the fact that it’s been over 40 years since the last study, Lashley said Water Development Commission Deputy Planning Director Barry Lawrence believes the odds of the town being selected for a water master plan are quite good.
Lashley reminded the council that all but $250 of the $2,000 application fee will be returned if the Water Development Commission doesn’t select the town. If the town is chosen, the public works director said the council should consider the $2,000 application fee as a trade for $150,000 worth of work by the state.
The council agreed that the water system is the town’s most critical piece of infrastructure.
The governing body unanimously voted to use $2,000 from the Rock Creek Wind Energy Project Impact Assistance Fund to cover the Wyoming Water Development Commission’s application fee. The application must be submitted before March 1st.
