Byron News: Mary was instrumental in the Shoshone Municipal Pipeline

I have had a few people contact me about an item in Mary Jensen’s obituary referring to Mary’s part in a major water project for our area. Some were curious about how that came about.

Mary was the mayor in Byron from 1980-84. Byron at that time had its own water treatment facility (north on Center Street across from the old VonBergen cabin). With government oversight and regulations becoming more strict, all of our communities were looking at some solutions to their town water sources and treatments at that time.

In 1981, Mayor Mary went to Cody to visit with Dorse Miller (Cody mayor) about the possibility of doing something on a regional basis to solve the water problems. As a result of this meeting, Cody, Powell, Byron and Lovell informally banded together to study the possibilities. In early 1982, Engineering Associates of Cody was hired to see if such a project was feasible. In 1985 JM Montgomery of Boise was hired to draw up a conceptual design and provide cost estimates for the large project.

I spoke with Mary about her part a few years ago, and she did remember going to visit with Mayor Miller because she and the council knew that something would have to be done soon to assure our citizens had good, clean drinking water. She didn’t elaborate except to say she was happy that over the years the project got completed. Following Mary, the next mayor for two terms was Alan Bair. Under his stewardship, Byron joined Cody, Powell and Lovell and formed the Shoshone Municipal Pipeline Joint Powers Board.

In the summer of 1986 Deaver and Frannie joined the board. Banner Associates of Laramie was hired to prepare the designs and specifications for the project. Two years later the Treated Water Pipeline contract was awarded to Barcon Inc. of Sheridan for $24.5 million. Construction began in September of that year and was complete in February of 1990. The total cost of the project with the water treatment plant was closer to $50 million. In 1989 the water treatment plant construction began and was complete in September of 1991.

In October of 1991 folks in Cody, Powell, Byron, Lovell, Deaver and Frannie got their first taste of water from the new pipeline. The water we get has consistently tested to be higher quality than is required by EPA standards. So, raise a glass of nice, clean, affordable water direct from our taps, and give a vote of thanks to Mary for taking the drive to Cody to stir up some action and to Mayor Alan Bair for the Joint Powers Board’s efforts and the 10-year follow-through from concept to completion. Thank you.

Now you know the rest of the story.