City of Wahoo

The City of Wahoo Celebrates Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day today!

This is the eighth year in which Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day has been officially celebrated across the country. This day of recognition is a time when communities such as ours give recognition to the employees who provide one of their most valuable assets—their natural gas utility.

The official Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day is March 18 because that is the date of the New London, Texas school explosion in 1937 that led to the widespread odorization of natural gas and an increased emphasis on safety. Safety is a vital aspect to natural gas distribution and the employees of distribution companies endeavor to make natural gas delivery as safe as possible. This annual nationwide event is intended to build public awareness about the hard work done by the employees of natural gas utilities.

The City of Wahoo Utilities has owned and operated the Natural Gas System in Wahoo since 1999. It was the vote of the citizens of Wahoo to have the Gas System locally owned and operated with the local control at the heart of the decision.

The number one reason this has been successful is due to the dedicated professionals that operate our gas system. With over 60 year of combined operational experience Chris Otte, Jeff Peterson, and Wayne Stang bring a passion and expertise that keep our Natural Gas Service Safe, Reliable and Affordable. We thank them for their service! In addition, all of our administrative staff at City Hall do a great job of communicating and educating about Natural Gas and answering customers questions.

Wahoo Utilities looks forward to continuing to bring safe, reliable and affordable natural gas into your homes and businesses.  We also hope you join us in supporting natural gas as a premier energy source for our country.  As the cleanest burning fossil fuel, natural gas can help us achieve energy security and build a more competitive economy.

At the annual Nebraska Planning and Zoning Conference in Kearney on March 8-10, Travis Beavers was honored for his work for the City of Wahoo in planning and zoning. At the banquet on Thursday evening Travis received the Professional Award in recognition and appreciation for outstanding service in leadership and support of community planning efforts as Zoning Administrator and Building Inspector for the City of Wahoo. Congratulations Travis!  We are glad you are part of our team.

"Originally hired to the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator position for his construction background, Travis quickly learned the zoning side of his position for the City of Wahoo. He is committed to doing what is right, ensuring ALL citizens are required to follow the zoning laws the same way, with the same interpretation, in the same manner. This is no simple task in small towns. Travis has learning zoning concepts and practices and works diligently to eliminate the influence of politics in the application of the rules. Like many zoning administrators in Nebraska, he does his job well, with a genuine desire to treat every person the same, no matter their status, political position, connections, or financial resources. Recognizing Travis is recognizing that doing this job like it should be done is foundational to effective planning and zoning."

The City of Wahoo will soon be starting their annual jetting and inspection program of our sanitary sewer system. In the upcoming weeks Johnson Service Company will be in Wahoo to jet, camera/video, and inspect a portion of the City's sanitary sewer system. This is part of our comprehensive assessment and maintenance program for our sanitary sewer mains. Each year the Department of Utilities authorizes Johnson Services to complete approximately $50,000 of this type of work in Wahoo. Last year the focused area was south of 12th Street and primarily east of Broadway. This area was selected so the City would know of any repairs that needed to be made prior to the 2022 street overlay work that was done. We do our best to make sure the utilities in the ground are in good working condition before replacing or improving a street. In 2023 the area of focus will generally be south of 12th Street, north of the UP RR tracks, and west of Walnut/Sycamore.

If your home or business is located in this area, Johnson Services will notify you directly when they will be working on the sewer main you are connected to. They will place a door hangar on your front door, similar to this example, and this will provide you with the information you need to know while this work is taking place. 

Johnson Sewer has provided this video on their website showing examples of work they do. This can be found by clicking on this link that will take you to their webpage.  

Johnson Services Video - Sewer & Storm Sewer Cleaning

If you have any questions about why we do this, what information we collect, how the information is used, or just want to learn more about a system we all often take for granted - but shouldn't (we all like the toilet to work!), just give us a call at 402-443-3222 and we'll do our best to answer your questions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently rolled out new regulations for its existing Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) policy. One of the new requirements states that all public water systems must complete an inventory of water service lines within their jurisdiction to help identify remaining lead service lines. This inventory of information is not only important for public water systems like the Wahoo Department of Utilities (DOU) to know, but it is also essential to protecting and improving public health in Wahoo and the surrounding area. Explore this webpage to learn more about the newly updated policy and how it impacts homeowners, business owners, and schools.

What is the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR)?

The LCR was first passed in 1991, but there have been multiple revisions to the policy since its passing. The latest updates came in January 2021 and became effective starting December 2021.

In the newest version of the law, public water systems are now required to develop (and maintain) a Lead Service Line (LSL) inventory. This information will be used to help develop a future replacement plan for all known LSLs. For now, however, public water systems only need to focus on developing the inventory and recording all known LSLs in their service area.

More information for public water systems about developing a replacement plan is anticipated to come later in 2023 in the form of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) policy update. However, for now, federal and state agencies recommend communities only focus on developing and maintaining the inventory.

Conducting the Water Service Line Inventory

For most homes and buildings built after 1978, the presence of lead is less prevalent. However, there is still a chance that lead material could have been used in residential service lines following this date. For this reason, it is important for all property owners in the community to conduct their own on-site inspection and determine what material type their water service line is made of - lead, copper, galvanized steel, or plastic.

To complete the EPA’s required service line inventory, the Wahoo DOU will need property owners’ assistance with verifying service line material. Through basic tests or observation, property owners can provide the DOU with what type of material their service line is made of – lead, copper, galvanized steel, or plastic. Follow these basic steps provided in the video below to determine what your service line material is and use the online self-reporting tool to share your findings with the city.

Need Assistance Determining Your Service Line Material Type?

If after completing your own inspection you are still not sure what material your service line is made of, reach out to the Wahoo DOU to set up a free on-site inspection with one of our technicians.

The Dangers of Lead

For years, we have known lead is a toxic metal that was once prevalently used in daily products, materials, and the construction of buildings. Despite it being banned from use, lead is still found in old and existing materials across the state, including private water service lines. Measures in the last two decades aimed at addressing lead material in water service lines have greatly reduced exposure to lead in our communities. However, as stated previously, lead can still be found in the water service lines of homes and properties, especially those older than 1978. The only way to know for sure if your water service line contains lead, is to conduct an on-site inspection or get your water tested.

• Property owners can conduct their own on-site inspection by following the instructions above.
• Nebraskans can also order a lead in water test from the DHHS Public Health Environmental Lab for a small fee. To order a lead in water test, call (402) 471-2122 or visit the Public Health Environmental Lab website.

Helpful Resources

Nebraska DHHS Lead Poisoning: This website is hosted by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary location for all of their lead poisoning and lead-based policy information. This website includes information on sources of lead, prevention information, and detailed information for homeowners, business owners, and health professionals.

Nebraska DHHS – Lead Rules and Regulations: This website is hosted by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and provides a brief review of what the lead rules and regulations are at the state and federal level. This includes information on lead-based paint and other lead-related policies.

Nebraska DHHS – Lead Poisoning FAQs: This webpage is hosted by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and provides answers to a list of commonly asked questions about lead in homes and its effect to the human body.

Lead and Copper Rule & Revisions Overview: A comprehensive review of the most recent action taken to improve and expand upon the existing LCR policy.

EPA Lead and Copper Rule Implementation Tools: The EPA has curated a list of resources to help states and water utility departments to implement the LCR.

EPA 3T’s for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Toolkit: EPA’s 3Ts – Training, Testing, and Taking Action – Here you will find information and recommendations to prepare schools, child care facilities, and states to build a voluntary implementation program to reduce lead levels in drinking water.

Contact Information

Wahoo Department of Utilities
402-443-3222
605 N Broadway Street
Wahoo, NE 68066

At the City Council meeting held on April 8, 2021, the City Council voted to change the regular meeting date from Thursdays to the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, beginning in May, 2021. The second April meeting will be held on April 22, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.  The first May meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on May 11, 2021.

The Mayor and Council of the City of Wahoo meet regularly on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Wahoo Public Library, 637 N Maple St. They also convene as needed for special meetings which can be called by either the Mayor or by three of the six Council members. All meetings are open to the public and are held in accordance with the Open Meetings Act established by the Nebraska State Legislature.

Items for consideration by the Mayor and Council at their regular meetings must be submitted to the City Clerk's Office by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on the Thursday prior to the meeting. While each agenda is kept continually current and available for public inspection on request, the agenda is not final until posted on the Friday before the meeting. The City of Wahoo makes agendas available by email, on this website, and by posting at the Wahoo Post Office, First National Bank and City Hall. If you would like to have your name added to the email distribution list, please send an email to fasel@wahoo.ne.us.

Special meetings may be called from time to time as the need arises. Agendas for special meetings are posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting time in the same manner as agendas for regular meetings of the Council.

The City of Wahoo uses a worksheet to prepare items for the Council's consideration. If you would like to have an item added to the next regular meeting of the Mayor and Council, please print off the Agenda Request Worksheet, complete the worksheet, and return it to the City Clerk's Office at 605 North Broadway along with any supporting documentation. Once the item is received, the Clerk will contact you regarding the exact date and time of the meeting.

Agendas:

The minutes of the Mayor and Council must be made available to the public within 10 days of the meeting or by the next meeting, whichever comes first. If the minutes you are looking for are not available below, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 402-443-3222.

Minutes:

Older agenda, packets, and minutes are available at the City Clerks office at City Hall. 

Project Overview

The City of Wahoo Utilities will be moving from manual meter reading to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for residential electricity, water, and gas utilities.

• AMI includes technologies such as “smart meters” that accurately and securely enable two-way information between customers and the utilities while providing real-time consumption data.
• By switching to AMI, Wahoo Utilities will gather timely utility data to better understand community usage patterns and establish a utility of the future.
• The transition from manual meter reading to AMI is part of normal Wahoo Utilities operations and will have no direct cost to customers.

Upgrading from manual meter reading to AMI will improve utility management, allowing customers and Wahoo Utilities to make better informed decisions.

Wahoo Utilities will begin a four-year rollout plan in 2021 to replace or retrofit residential utility meters. 

• All homes within Wahoo city limits will have their electricity, water, and gas meters updated to AMI.
• City representatives will coordinate with homeowners prior to updating water and gas meters within homes.
• The installation process will be rolled out by billing cycle (about one-fourth of the community each phase).

For more information about the AMI process, click here for a fact sheet. More information will be available as implementation gets closer.