Pioneer plant to create hole in Westminster budget

Pioneer Rural Water District’s plans to proceed toward its first treatment plant will create a hole in the budget for the city of Westminster.  Once Pioneer’s plant goes into operation—the projected date is 2018—Westminster will have lost a sizeable wholesale water customer.  And the loss of that revenue figured in Westminster’s workshop retreat meeting held Saturday at the offices of the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative.  Westminster leaders referred to the impending loss of their wholesale water arrangement with Pioneer as they broke out into a session to strategize what is likely to happen in the next five years over which their city has no control.