Cost of water crisis is beginning to mount
The bill for the Marion Reservoir anabaena outbreak is beginning to mount.
Already, Marion has spent more than $20,000 on the water crisis, and this does not include a bill Marion County has submitted to the city for the county's help.
It does include $10,562 for two new electrical pumps that have not yet arrived, $4,868.13 in overtime wages for city employees, and $3,986.43 for parts. One of two gasoline-powered pumps being used to draw water from Luta Creek threw a rod Thursday, and a new pump had to be purchased for $1,100.
Susan Cooper, director of economic development for the city, said Monday some Small Business administration low-interest loans may be available to merchants who suffered financial loss during the disaster period, as declared by both Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the Marion County Commission because of the water/algae troubles.
Anyone who is interested should give Cooper a call at City Hall.
Although Hillsboro hasn't received the final bills yet, early estimates could put the cost of trucking in water between $30,000 and $35,000, said City Administrator Steve Garrett.
But these are just estimates, he stressed. Because while the city brought in water from Rural Water District No. 4 and the City of McPherson, residents' meters kept running like normal, and they'll be charged for water use just like normal.
A "big chunk" of the final cost will go toward paying Gorges Dairy for the use of its trucks and drivers, Garrett said.
Travis Murphy, press secretary for U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, said Moran has been trying to help solve the water problems in Marion County. "He has been involved mostly as a facilitator," Murphy said Tuesday.
The congressman has spoken to mayors and other public officials in Peabody, Marion, and Hillsboro, Murphy said. He's also spoken to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers people at Marion Reservoir and in Tulsa, Okla.
"He is following, monitoring, the situation," Murphy said. Moran is also "keeping the conversation open" about who will pick up the tab, pay the bills, for expenses already incurred by the three cities, the county, and the state.
