Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs City Council members want to see the low fire-flow issue in the Mount Werner Water and Sanitation District resolved.

Members voted Tuesday night to send a letter to district officials outlining their key concerns, which include the urgency and importance of the issue.

According to a report published by the district, seven neighborhoods have inadequate fire flow. Fire flow measures the amount of water and water pressure that comes out of a fire hydrant.

Bill Martin, chairman of the Steamboat Springs Water Commission, told council members that he met with officials from the water district and that he did not think they were treating the fire-flow issue with a sense of urgency.

"I take a difference of opinion to that at the philosophical level," Martin said. "There is a higher order of consequence beyond the legal and financial." That consequence, he said, is moral and ethical; the district has a responsibility to take care of people.

"We're talking about people's houses burning down here with inadequate fire flow," he said.

A representative of the Mount Werner district said district officials think the low fire-flow is an urgent matter and that they are working to fix it as soon as possible.

"It's not a matter that can be fixed in an afternoon," he said.

The representative said district officials plan to look at a report detailing the issue during a Sept. 29 meeting. Council members said they plan to attend that meeting.

Members also will send a letter to Routt County commissioners asking them to keep an eye on the development of the district's efforts.

Council member Kathy Con--nell asked whether there were any other areas with low fire flows in the city.

City Manager Paul Hughes said there are three other areas within the city that have problems with inadequate fire flow. Those areas are within two land parcels the city has annexed. He said one of the areas was "half-fixed" Tuesday and that there are plans to upgrade the other two locations. Hughes did not elaborate about where the locations are.

Connell told Hughes she wanted information about those districts and plans for improvement.

In other business, the City Council:

Reviewed the five-year capital improvement plan.

Passed the first reading of an ordinance changing sewer rates.

Reviewed results of a community survey.

Heard a presentation about work force housing based on a community forum.

-- To reach Dana Strongin, call 871-4229 or e-mail dstrongin@steamboatpilot.com