Summer watering restrictions will begin in the city June 1 and will continue until Aug. 31, City City Councilors agreed at their meeting on May 2.

Councilors voted unanimously to adopt restrictions, with a few exceptions, daily during the hottest parts of the day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The city's resolution notes that Colorado and the Front Range have been in drought conditions for "several" years and that the drought includes Fort Lupton. The city could have to endure limits on its water supply this summer because of the drought.

The resolution also notes that water sprayed during the hottest parts of the day evaporates more quickly due to the heat and sun.

Restrictions will be in place for all properties from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. unless the property uses untreated or nonpotable water.

The resolution also allows the city to grant one three-week waiver to properties with new sod or seeded lawns.

The resolution also waives commercial car washes from the restriction and allows residents to wash their cars if they use a bucket or a hose connected to a shut-off nozzle.

In other business, the city purchased  40 new Dell Latitude Laptops and an upgraded audio system with microphones for the Council Chambers.

The city is contracting with Dell US for about $70,000 for the new equipment for the computers and with Rushworks for $48,000 for the new audio equipment.

The new computers will be used in several city departments and are part of an effort to convert city operations from using desktop computers to dockable laptops.

The new audio equipment includes new microphones for the councilors themselves and eight rechargeable mobile microphones, eight overhead speakers and the software to control the sound system. The price also includes training for the staff.

Water plant controls

Council approved a contract with Brown Hill Engineering and Controls to install and program new logic controllers at the city's water treatment plant.

Councilors agreed to spend  $105,000 from the Utility Fund for the water treatment plant upgrades.

Roy Vestal, Public Works Director, said the new primary logic controllers are an upgrade for the city's existing filtration membranes and will match the new filtration membranes as they are added during the plant's planned expansion.