The Rapid City Public Works Committee members at their meeting on Tuesday, acknowledged the West Dakota Water Development Districts petition challenging the City of Rapid City’s authority regarding wastewater systems. Earlier this month, at the request of Pennington County Commissioner George Ferebee, the District agreed to seek a declaration that cities and counties cannot legally regulate septic systems, or at least cannot regulate septic systems that existed before a 1975 change in South Dakota law. Ferebee said that there might be contamination in Hill City and Keystone, but those cities chlorinate their water. Committee members had no discussion, but Alderman Jason Salamun said he supports protecting Rapid City’s water supply……
The item now moves to City Council.
West Dakota leaders had offered $5,000 to Ferebee’s cause, but attorney Kenneth Jasper said he would need at least $7,500 for legal representation at the December meeting of the Water Management Board in Pierre .
Story By: KOTA’s Marnie Cook
