Keystone asking for compound meter

Keystone trustees approved a meter for the KBarS Lodge expansion at the April 15 Keystone Town Board meeting. Town engineer Zach Grapentine said the options for the project and advised trustees on how to proceed.

“They were requesting a six-inch meter,” Grapentine said, which he said means that minor flows will not get read. “Anytime someone flushes a toilet or washes their hands quick, none of that stuff will get read through the meter because it’s too low of a flow.”

Grapentine offered three solutions: a surcharge on top of its bills to capture those flows, requesting a smaller meter or a compound meter. Grapentine had not spoken to anyone directly at KBarS  but stated its engineer said KBarS would prefer paying a surcharge, which is about $1,200/month for each meter. 

Grapentine suggested a compound meter, which is essentially two meters, a six-inch and two-inch, that capture all the flows. Public works supervisor Jerry Przybylski wanted to make certain everything past the meters is theirs and that backflow preventers will be installed. Grapentine also suggested the city see the plans overall. 

“It would be nice to know how they’re gonna set that up,” Grapentine said. 

Przybylski suggested a walk through to see where the city’s responsibility begins. 

“Anything beyond the property line is on them,” Grapentine said, but he also recommended a memorandum of understanding for flushing hydrants and or using a camera in their  sewer line.  

It is unclear whether the city can force KBarS to use a particular meter as a six- inch meter is technically compatible with the city’s system, but it has to function properly.

Trustees voted to direct  KBarS to use a compound meter with a backflow preventer. 

Grapentine also gave an update on the sewer upsize project. The expected start date is April 27 with a completion date of Sept. 25. Grapentine finished the booster pump assessment using monthly data. 

“Based on the future and existing, we came up with 100 gallons/minute pumps, two of them,” saying this is the “sweet spot.”

Grapentine said the cost is between $250,000 and $275,000.  

Reservoir two will not be fixed until the first week in June since parts could not be obtained from the factory, according to  Przybylski. This will affect water going to the Keystone Project because water cannot go up that high.  Przybylski said the pumps for the new KBarS project won’t be done in time. He found old lines that could be used if needed. 

“We checked it the other day. It works. There’s less pressure, but it would run KBarS and still feed Baymont,” Przybylski said.

He estimates it would have 26 to 30 pounds of pressure.

Discussion of proposals for the Keystone Community Center soffit project was tabled as the town collects more bids.

Tourism director Emma Groninger said HomeSlice will donate $2,500 in radio ads to the business winner of the Keystone Independence Day decorating contest. 

The Visitor Information  Center is fully staffed and will open May 15 with hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

“We have four wonderful gals, and we’re excited to have them join us,”  Groninger said.

Matt Fullilove gave information on the third annual Katie Leising Day April 25. There will be music at Halley’s Store. Fullilove said organizers will feed first responders, including those in Hill City. Donations are welcome for the event.

The Keystone Senior Center is looking for businesses, individuals or groups to host Sunday brunches during the summer. The next scheduled brunch is May 3 and is being hosted by the Stars and Stripes Alliance. The center is hosting a game night April 14, and the next senior center board meeting is April 30.

Bed, Board & Booze sales tax is up 35.8 percent from last year and the first and second penny are up 45.8 percent from last year. 

The next Keystone Town Board meeting is  May 6 at 6 p.m.