The city of Ouray has decided to explore the possibility of running water from several sources through a mechanical system to heat water for the Ouray Hot Springs Pool.

City councilors on Monday unanimously agreed to pay a trio of Durango contractors $14,500 to pre-design a closed-loop heat pump system aimed at boosting temperatures. The goal is to keep the pools at the hot springs fully open seven days a week throughout the year.

The idea, City Administrator Silas Clarke said, is to look at what ...