Tecumseh gears up for access to water as amendment nears OK

The city of Tecumseh is one step closer to raw water access from Wes Watkins Reservoir, because of  a contract amendment reached last month between Shawnee and Tecumseh city officials and the Pottawatomie County Development Authority (PCDA).
The amendment details were discussed recently by Tecumseh Utility Authority trustees.
“I never realized what kind of an investment we have,” Linda Praytor, Ward 3 trustee, said of the city’s ties to Wes Watkins Reservoir.
The reservoir was completed in the mid 1990s by the PCDA. A contract created in 1990 covers the distribution requirements from the reservoir to Shawnee and Tecumseh, and Tecumseh officials have set out in recent years to change the way the city accesses its share.
In the original contract, Shawnee is entitled to 85 percent of Wes Watkins water, while Tecumseh is entitled to the remaining 15 percent. That 15 percent would be delivered to Tecumseh after it was treated at Shawnee’s treatment facility.
Praytor said this method would not be cost effective, because Tecumseh would be required to make payments on their 15 percent of the water supply, pay for the treatment of their share of the water and still maintain their water treatment facility. Tecumseh officials have continued an effort to to access their 15 percent raw for the purpose of treating it themselves.
The recent amendment, if approved by all entities, will give Tecumseh that option. Dr. Joe Taron, PCDA chairman, said Shawnee and Tecumseh have made a great deal of progress in amending the contract, but the PCDA needs more time to review the changes. A decision could be made by September, officials said.
“If we can get all three entities together, we can make a giant step forward,” said Tecumseh Mayor John Collier.
Through the original contract, Tecumseh would be required to pay a minimum monthly amount proportionate to the capital and maintenance costs incurred by Shawnee. This amount would have to be paid regardless of the amount of treated water Tecumseh acquired. Tecumseh would also be required to pay 15 percent of the operation and maintenance costs associated with Shawnee’s treatment facility.
Praytor said the amendment reached last month would give Tecumseh direct access to raw water equaling its 15 percent share, and would relieve Shawnee of its obligation to treat Tecumseh’s water. The amendment would also free Tecumseh from any operation and maintenance costs, and would give them (and Shawnee) the option to sell any portion of their shares to other communities if necessary.
If the amendment is approved, the ensuing raw water line leading from the reservoir would be jointly owned by Shawnee and Tecumseh. From that, Tecumseh will have the right to connect a line to the main line, thereby getting direct access to raw water. The cities would own the line jointly up to the point of Tecumseh’s connection.
Praytor said to this point, Tecumseh has not accessed “a drop” of Wes Watkins water.
“We may not need it today, but it may be our lifeline for our children one day,” she said.