La Cygne council approves land purchase, questions impact of data center on water supply

The La Cygne City Council approves purchasing land adjacent to its water plant to build a clearwell that will hold up to 500,000 gallons. (Journal file photo)

By Roger Sims, Journal staff

linncountyjournal@icloud.com

LA CYGNE – After several days of negotiations and special meetings, the city council voted unanimously to purchase a lot adjacent to the north of the city’s water plant, at 116 N. First St. for $47,000. The purchase of the lot, which is 100 feet wide, will enable the city to locate its proposed clearwell there. 

That lot, plus the 40 feet available at the north end of the city’s property, will allow the city to build the clearwell, which could hold up to 500,000 gallons of water, in close proximity to the plant.

The purchase marks the beginning of the third phase of the water plant’s update and will further increase the city’s capacity to be a regional water supplier. However, Public Works Superintendent Dan Nasalroad said the need for a new clearwell makes the purchase inevitable.

Linn Valley is a step closer to making its water system functional. La Cygne will supply water to the new system.

Nasalroad said that the 250,000-gallon water tower at Linn Valley had been disinfected and filled. Once testing is completed, Linn Valley’s water salesman will begin supplying water to those in the city who haul water.

Maintaining an adequate supply of water for both La Cygne and Linn Valley was apparently on the mind of Councilmember Jerome Mitzner when he asked whether a proposed data center upstream could impact the city’s supply.

A company has been exploring building a data center in north Osawatomie that reportedly would need its own lake for cooling the data systems in the massive building. A group of Osawatomie residents have protested the building of the center, so its future remains unclear.

If it is built, water for the cooling lake would likely be drawn from the Marais des Cygnes River, which passes through the city. The Marais des Cygnes is mainly supplied by Pomona and Melvern reservoirs which maintains a reverse pool for La Cygne. The river is tapped by several rural water districts and cities, including Ottawa and Osawatomie, on its way to La Cygne.

City Clerk Jodi Wade said that the Marais des Cygne River Water Assurance District members had discussed the possibility of data centers being built in the district and potential water needs. She said the district would work with the Kansas State Water Office to determine how the addition of a data center could impact water supplies as well as develop guidelines for water use.

Council members asked Wade to keep them informed of any developments.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a wage increase to $15 per hour for the seasonal cemetery caretaker. That position was not included when the council updated its pay scale last year.

  
  

• Discussed allowing volunteer groups help with upkeep of Oaklawn Cemetery. Resident Tammy Weitman asked about the possibility of using volunteers for cleaning up the grounds including cutting down tree sprouts and picking up fallen tree limbs. Volunteers will need to sign waiver forms as well as appoint a person to learn what volunteers cannot do. Nasalroad said he would work with the caretaker to determine where branches could be piled.

  
  

• Learned that, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) told the city to once again seek bids on the installation of new lift stations for the city’s waste water system, new bids are due on Feb. 24. The USDA questioned the bidding process since the job was originally let to the second lowest bid after it was determined that the lowest bidder’s experience was called into question. Since USDA provides financing for the project, the council rejected all bids and sent out bid requests again.

  
  

• Learned that the city had received an offer for the lot it owns at 402 S. Broadway. However, the offer had a time limit and the council was not able to review it before the offer expired.

  
  

• Learned that a check for nearly $113,000 from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) had been received as reimbursement for the intersection construction at Industrial Drive and Market Street. Councilmember Jerome Mitzner contacted state Rep. Rick James about getting the reimbursement after KDOT had been dragging its feet for several months on a project dating back two years.