Carmine Citizens Pack Council Chamber Over Water Concerns

A standing room only crowd attended the Carmine City Council meeting on Monday, March 14, to hear about the City’s plan to supply water to a proposed development on Fuchs Road.

Developer Dirk Winter proposes to develop a 150-acre tract on Fuchs Road into a resort that could eventually include 100 rental duplexes along with commercial spaces. Winter told the Fayette County Commissioner’s Court two weeks ago that the first phase of the project would involve a Christmas market.

Carmine Mayor Wade Eilers said the City has been in contact with Winter since last October. The City Council approved a contract to supply the development with water last month.

“The citizens of Carmine were concerned mainly about the additional water capacity as to how it would affect our current operations and future growth,” Carmine Mayor Wade Eilers said about Monday’s meeting. “Traffic was another concern. However, Carmine has no control over nor can it regulate traffic, noise, and environmental issues at Mr. Winter’s property.”

Eilers said Winter will pay 100 percent of the construction cost for the six-inch line that will supply water to his property. He estimated the cost at $340,000. Terms stipulate that the contract will become void on Dec. 31, 2023 if Winter does not complete the water line by then.

“A feasibility study was conducted, and thankfully, the City of Carmine has two wells that will not impede our normal operations or future growth as best we can forecast,” Eilers said. “Yes, we have water to sell; however, any large capacity request will have to have a feasibility study to protect Carmine’s current and future operations.”

Documents from the feasability study are available for the public to view on the City of Carmine website, www.cityofcarmine.com.

The documents stated that the development would increase the average daily demand in the City’s water system from 44,331 to 59,331 gallons per day. The system’s storage capacity is well above that number, at 160,000 gallons. It went on to say that the City’s pumping capacity of 260 gallons per minute is well above the average (31 GPM) and peak (115 GPM) demand conditions anticipated once the development comes online.