by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The use of grey or effluent water – i.e. wastewater – for possible oil exploration is neither a done deal or a dead deal, but it is an idea the Wellington City Council and staff are committed to pursuing.

Over the past month, there have been concern over the Wellington city selling treated water to Source Energy Partners, from Highlands Ranch, Colo., who were horizontal drilling, east of town  (see story here.)

Wellington City Manager Gus Collins told the council that the oil company has completed its project using city water and it used 1.438 million of the 2 million gallons of treated water purchased, resulting in a small profit for the city of $7,000.

Collins said the oil company liked his idea of using the wastewater that is in a holding situation at the treatment plant for future purposes. He said he will be meeting with officials from KDHE to see if it will allow the city to use that water for future oil companies wanting to use city water for drilling.

In other council news: 

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Four-way stop

The council gave Collins verbal approval to go ahead and turn the intersection at Eighth and Jefferson into a permanent four-way stop sign intersection.

Last week a Canadian trucker, hauling an oversized water tank, took out the stop light and poles at the intersection (see story here).

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Memorial Auditorium

With Memorial Auditorium set to re-open with its new ADA compatibility, a John Michael Montgomery concert will be featured on April 5 (see story here).

Collins said there is some interest from the concert promoters with selling alcohol at the event. Earlier councils approved the consumption of alcohol at certain events such as the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce banquet. But there has been no approval with selling alcohol.

The council agreed to seek public input on the matter before taking action.

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New bathroom facilities

The council approved the building of a new ADA compliant restroom facility on the east side of Wellington Lake. This restroom will replace the old block shower house.

The cost of the project is $120,000 with CXT, Inc. as the winning bidder. A $40,000 Kansas Department of Wildlife grant will pay partially for the facility with the city allocated $80,000.

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In other business: 

•The council approved members for the advisory board (see story here).

•Lake level is currently at 57 inches below normal level, up from a low of 72 inches a few weeks ago.

•Structures at 711 West 3rd Street; 519 South Blaine Street and 2118 East Harvey Ave. were approved for demolishing.

•The Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce asked for funds from the Convention and Business Bureau for an assistant to help out during the Wheat Festival for $7,500. This marks the second consecutive years the council has done so.