City’s drinking water issued top grade

Amid the ongoing dismal news surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the Brandon council took a moment to “dip their toes” into a bit of good news during Monday’s meeting.

City administrator Bryan Read reported the city’s drinking water report warrants yet another “gold star.”

“This is the 19th consecutive year that we’ve received the (secretary’s) award,” Read said. 

There was not a single violation on the report, and Read said the city’s drinking water did not exceed any of the limits.

Alderwoman Barb Fish expressed her delight in the report.

“So, where are the balloons dropping out of the ceiling and the champagne,” she said. “I mean, we have to celebrate these things.”

Read said the report numbers prove the city is not only meeting standards, but well exceeding them.

“The magic number that everybody’s been talking about is the alpha emmiters and the combined radium,” Read said, noting the city’s highest detected alpha was 10, and the maximum allowable amount is 15. For combined radium, the highest allowable contaminant level is 5, and the city’s came in at 2. 

“And it’s been lower since then,” Read said. 

The city, he added, is also going above what is required.

“We are doing our own testing voluntarily for radium and when we get those test results back, we post those,” he said.

Pool and summer rec 

There’s still a chance that the community swimming pool and summer rec programs will open yet this year. The decision, however, won’t be made for another two weeks.

Read explained that current projections from the state shows Minnehaha County should peak with COVID-19 infections in mid-May and throughout the state in mid-June, with infections carrying on into at least mid-July.

At the April 15 meeting of the city’s park and rec committee, it was determined that the earliest the pool could open to the public would be around July 4. Read said the season would be condensed to five weeks.

“At this point in time, we haven’t hired any staff. This is a discussion that is going on around all over the state with the operation of pools,” Read said. “Right now, the vast majority are on hold to see where this virus goes.”

Staff for the pool would come in about two weeks for training prior to its opening. 

Read said the summer rec program would also be abbreviated, ramping up around July 4 as well.

If the pool remains closed for the season, Read said the bid for the planned pool upgrades, which includes a splash pad, could be put out a month sooner.

“That could take the pressure off of opening next spring,” Read advised.

The park and rec committee will meet April 29 to decide whether or not to open the pool and stage summer rec this year. The council will consider that recommendation at their next meeting on Monday, May 4.