Up to 400,000 gallons of water spilled in Red Rock flooding

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City City Council heard at its Jan. 17 meeting that more than 200,000 gallons of city water was spilled when the Red Rock Elementary School flooded because of frozen water pipes on the weekend of Jan. 7-8.

That was the best estimate Public Works Director John Lasen could give the Council at that time. The delivery to the overhead fire suppression system is un-metered. So he can go only by estimate, which he was going to study further and possibly revise.

Monday, City Finance Director Greg Pike said he has heard estimates of more than 300,000 gallons, upwards to 400,000. The information is important, but Pike said it’s not likely the city will bill the school district for the water.

In other business before the Council on the 17th, Pike was authorized for travel to Spokane on Feb. 21-23 for the BIAS Conference. The city uses the BIAS accounting system, and the conference offers updates for the users.

This week, Lasen and Public Works employee Mauricio Romero are attending the Evergreen Rural Water Conference in Yakima through Thursday.

The Council approved a consent agenda that included a payroll of

$20,075,08, claims totaling $16,195.04 and the Council meeting minutes from Jan. 3.