During its Thursday meeting, the Riley County commission unanimously passed a motion to split the cost with Fort Riley on maintaining a new flood gauge near Keats.
The new gauge was originally paid for by Fort Riley and later installed by the United States Geological Survey. It will join two gauges, which are located off Scenic Drive and Seth Child Road.
“It’s a lot further upstream than what we’re getting from the Scenic and Seth Child gauges so it’ll give us a little more notice,” Pat Collins, Emergency Management Director, said.
Collins had not received specifics on what the maintenance will entail, but was able to give the commission a rough idea.
“It’s computer software, they line it up with satellites,” Collins said. “There’s some radio-work. I’m guessing there’s also going to be Wi-Fi that has an ongoing cost that we’re going to help pay for.”
The annual maintenance cost for the gauge is expected to be $6,000. Fort Riley and Riley County will each put up $3,000 to cover the expense. The county’s share will be taken from the Emergency Management budget in the general fund.
Collins presentation to Riley County Commissioners may be heard in the above audio.
