At their regular meeting on April 9, the Winnemucca City Council unanimously approved a request allowing a will-serve commitment for water and sewer services for a new car wash, the Express Car Wash and Quench It Soda Shop that will be constructed on East Winnemucca Boulevard.
Estimates conclude that the water demand is anticipated to be 27,900 gallons per day and sewer demand is estimated at 14,900 gallons per day, which will create only a slight impact to the water system, but will have a more significant impact to the sewer system “because the main that picks up this property will also carry the anticipated demand for the Lithium Nevada housing development,” according to City Manager Alicia Heiser.
Chuck Petersen, the owner of the new car wash and the owner of the Express Car Wash in Elko, was present at the meeting and explained that this location will be in place of the original intent to build the car wash on property located on Hanson Street.
Petersen said “Realistically we’re hoping to break ground this time next year.”
Despite the added usage, Heiser said that she does not anticipate it causing any problems for the systems, just increasing the rates more towards capacity and in comparison, the car wash will have much smaller water and sewer usage rates than the Lithium Workforce Hub.
When they approved the will-serve commitment with Lithium Americas at a previous meeting the Council included a condition that the Workforce Hub have a cap on usage and output, as safeguard for the systems.
Councilwoman Theresa Mavity clarified that the peak usage for the Workforce Hub, capped at 700 gallons per minute for the sewer system, will not be occurring regularly, as the project will escalate and then deescalate respectively with the phases of construction at the Thacker Pass project site.
Eventually though, Heiser explained, the Council will have to consider replacing the pipe size for the sewer system, running below the railroad tracks in the center of town, as businesses and housing grows, which will require permission for the railroad.
“With the two developments there, that 12-inch pipe is estimated to flow at 66% capacity at peak so our sewer system can handle it,” explained Heiser. “I recommend approval of the will-serve commitment for this development but just keeping in mind that at some point we are going to have to increase the pipe size under the railroad tracks.”
In other Council news
• The Council authorized for the Historic Preservation Commission to apply for two Historic Preservation Fund grants from the State Historic Preservation Office for travel costs to the 2024 National Alliance of Preservation Commission conference in July and costs associated with preparing a nomination for the Bridge Street historic district.
According to Humboldt Museum Director Dana Toth, the funding is a 60/40 cost share, but historically the Commission has received well over the 60 percent of the costs and expects that they will receive the generous amount once again.
Toth also explained that the estimated costs for the nomination for the Bridge Street historic district are around $20,000, but the nomination will help open opportunities for other funding and preservation that will be beneficial to the City, small businesses, and more.
• The Council approved the final conceptual designs proposed for the amphitheater that will be located in the City’s recreation complex near Lowry High School, which will be funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Estimates put together by LA Studios, who the City has awarded the project to, state that the project will cost $301,773.50 along with other professional services such as grading for the site that are estimated around $52,000, bringing the costs very near to the $350,00 in ARPA funds that were set aside for the project.
• The Council approved a variance request for a property located in Welch Drive in order to push the required 20-foot front yard setback to 7 feet in order for the resident to build a shop/garage.
• The council approved a street closure request for Saint Paul’s Catholic Church on Oct. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a parade as part of their Centennial Celebration.
• The Council approved a request for the local Lions Club to use the Scout Hut property for their regular meetings.