The Gage County Planning and Zoning Commission discussed the city of Beatrice's desire to expand the wellhead protection district during a public hearing Tuesday at the courthouse. Rivera said the wells in the district provide potable water to Beatrice and about half of the population of Gage County. Members of the public who spoke at the hearing questioned the need to expand if the city wasn't planning to drill new wells. "I don't think the wellhead protection area needs to be expanded until it's needed," said Marilee Brinkmeyer of Beatrice, who owns land in the district. "And we're a neighbor that might potentially be affected by that, whether it be water drawdown or restriction because we're in the wellhead protection area."
