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Show Free Press - Wednesday, June 18, 1997 - Page 3 Winning the water battle Salt Lake bid for local groundwater fails, but basic water issues remain unresolved By BEKY BEATON North Utah County municipalities have managed to block a bid to claim local groundwater by the Salt Lake Water County Conservancy District (SLCWCD) ... at least for now. On June 11, a third district judge granted a joint motion for dismissal of the lawsuit against the SLCWCD filed by Utah County, Alpine, American Fork, Highland and Lehi. The suit was deemed no longer necessary because the SLCWCD board of directors reversed itself and determined the proposed annexation that prompted the suit was invalid and would not go forward. "We attended the (original) district hearings and expressed our opposition to the (annexation) plan," said Alpine Mayor Joel Hall. Since District officials didn't seem to be listening, "we thought the lawsuit would be the best tool to get their attention," Hall said. It worked. The suit listed all the ways in which the proposed annexation by the SLCWCD of lands in Utah County that are part of Draper violated HB308, passed in 1996 specifically to amend the laws on water districts to protect municipalities from incursions into the'r actual or potential water rights without their permission. The complaint, filed more than a year ago, alleges that not only did the SLCWCD board originally ignore provisions of the old law, they tried to rush the annexation through before the effective date of the new legislation. HB1006 was drafted to change the effective date; both bills were sponsored by Rep. Christine Fox. It was signed into law just hours before the District board met, but they accepted the annexation petition anyway. Even though he characterized the suit dismissal as "one victory in the battle to protect the water and water rights of Utah County from appropriation by our neighbors to the north," Utah Commissioner County Jerry Grover also acknowledged that the fight is far from over. Part of the objection to the District's plan was that they were going to drill wells outside SLCWCD boundaries on land that is either in or near other municipalities. "This affects city growth over the long term," Grover said. He concluded," The issue is not only regarding territory, but the resulting exchange of Utah Lake water rights with pristine aquifer water rights, which would have been the ultimate result of the from petition Draper landowners in Utah County to annex into the SLCWCD was denied. annexation." American Fork Mayor Jess Green said "I was just very pleased that the situation was settled to prevent them from coming over to take our water." "We're still concerned that they're seeking ways to take Utah County water from underground and replacing it with poorer quality water," Green continued. "As far as I know, those applications still Before any future annexations to a water district can take place, must written be consent obtained from the governing body of any municipality that includes part of the affected land within its boundaries or legally proposed expansion area. The possibility that well water can be "swapped" for lake water still exists. exist." Marc Wangsgard, the attorney who filed the suit, said the water quality issue had indeed not been settled because it was not addressed by the court or in the are within the same drainage basin. are If the applications approved, SLCWCD would be allowed to take some or all of the quantity of water they have rights to from wells. Theoretically, Wangsgard said, this leaves the same quantity of water available for later municipal development. legislation. He explained that water rights in Utah involve two things: a specified quantity and the point from which water may be taken. Generally, the rights go to the first claim in time. SLCWCD already owns water rights to a substantial portion of Utah Lake. The applications Green referred to were made to the state engineer to change the point of diversion from Utah Lake to groundwater wells. The basis of the request is that both water sources Members of the Alpine School District board of education were expected to take action on a tentative school budget of about $196 million Tuesday during their June business meeting. Action was also expected on a tentative tax revenue and tax rate levy. The budget could not be finalized because the school district has not received the certified tax rate yet. District personnel have been working on the budget for the past expensive treatment plants that north Utah County communities don't have. Using groundwater precludes the need for such plants. It could be a best seller. Cut it's free. lb get your free catalog, write: pageant several weeks and shows total expenditures, including maintenance, operation and new school construction as nearly $200 million for the districts 44,000 Consumer Information Center Dept. BEST, PueMo,C0 81009 to culminate with Saturday night finals Wl"1 The 1997 Miss Utah Pageant got underway Monday night with the parade of contestants, and Lt. Chad Smith looked dashing. Miss Lehi Cyd Revill, as part of the theme for this year's pageant, selected Smith as her community hero because of his work with the youth of Lehi, not only as a police officer, but also as a coach in many of the city's recreation programs. (See Lehi Free Press, June 11, 1997.) Smith will also join Miss Lehi tonight (Wednesday) in the first night of preliminary competition, where Revill will participate in the evening wear portion of the contest and introduce Smith on stage. Revill will compete in the preliminary talent division on Friday, June 20, where she will sing the Dolly Parton hit, "I Will Always Love "IT m Preliminary competitions for the Miss Utah Scholarship Pageant are held at Mountain View High School, 645 W. Center, Orem, Wednesday at through Friday, June 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, June 21, the pageant opens with the naming of the top 10 contestants who will compete that evening for the title of Miss J1 c supplies and alternative language programs. Jack McKelvy, district business administrator, said 19 percent of the budget comes from county property taxes, with 71 percent coming from state revenues, and five percent from federal funding. Pleasant Grov it I if t; fvv--I 1 JWS4iM(iW't"1'- ,i.-- I " J ft " V 9 rf T 1 i 58t GRO' o TICK IT Cyd Revill, Miss Lehi 1996, introduces her community hero, Lt. Chad Smith of the Lehi Police Department, in the Miss Utah parade of contestants Monday night at University Mall. I KSL 1 j x. Gunnies Reams l; AA Calisters (SLC) Western Tack And Tog hursday Kicls-jNigh- Adults Child reri Lotts f q Smith Drug Wednesday niht special Vx'n in "Group I i Tickets available at: Pleasant Grove City Offices PRKJ-- 18-2- 0, Utah. Under the proposal, as presented to board members at a June 9 study session, the tax rate is proposed to change to .005426 percent, down from the previous .005457 percent. Assessed property value is projected to increase 14.4 percent from $5.2 billion to $5.9 billion. Reductions in the budget are shown in education, education technology, school building supplies, school and library media ii You." I I $7, k Under FREI 'rid.iy & Satuila-Nights Continued from front page more time to enjoy the things he really likes to do. In fact, Donna believes that they are busier with their lives than when he was working full time. He works part time now as a quality control inspector for International on an basis. The company wanted to hire Moody-Tottru- d p him full time at their plant near the Great Salt Lake, but he turned down the offer. In addition to that job, he also has a shop where he makes metal sculpture and repairs farm machinery. He and Donna enjoy fishing, hunting, camping, touring and spending time with their five grandchildren. Donna, the daughter of Delt and Beatrice B. Fox of American Fork, and the granddaughter of Jesse and Mary Fox of Lehi, also enjoys gardening. They are the parents of two children, Becky (Rick) Montague and Wade (Sharette) Lott. 801-763-30- (3ANT PVML 00 6:30 p.m. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21 7 a.m. CARNIVAL 7:30 a.m. Tourney Other Events: ROCK BAND STREET DANCE OZ STATIC WITH LIVE BAND WAVE O' BLUES FUNK, BLUES WITH COMEDIAN JOHNNY B ! Wednesday, June 18 5:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Friday, June 20th 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. 9 a.m. - noon 1 -- 5 p.m. 1 p.m. 2 & 4 p.m. 6 p.m. it F1R7ORKSSK017 Aduh $7.00 Children $3.00 . Thursday, June 19 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 10 a.m. & 6 p.m. 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. 8 p.m. Fork Citv Come Celebrate Willi Us! CALL NOW FOR TICKETS! A District considers $196 million budget In practice, however, municipal use of lake water would require Cyd Revill to vie for Miss Utah title Week-lon- g Two horses, with a combined value of about $8,000, were shot, one fatally, by an unknown suspect or suspects. A resident near the pasture where the horses were located said he had seen three juveniles shooting BB guns in the area. When the owner took the surviving animal to the veterinarian to be treated, the doctor pulled two .22 caliber bullets from the leg; because of the extensive damage to the bone, the animal had to be put to sleep. Communications equipment valued at $1,200 was taken from several business vehicles in one report, with $190 in similar equipment take from another business vehicle, in which the suspect entered the vehicle by gaining access through a wing window. Audio equipment valued at $520 was taken from a vehicle; other equipment in the same vehicle sustained about $250 in damages when the suspect could not remove another item. In a similar incident, $22 in audio equipment was stolen, but this time from an unlocked vehicle. A Lehi man, known to have a suspended license, was observed driving. Upon further examination, the man admitted to the officer that his driver's license was indeed still suspended. A check of the vehicle indicated that there was also no insurance on either the vehicle or the driver. Finally, a Lehi man was arrested on two outstanding warrants totaling more than $1,100. The & ROCK Yet? Are We Having Fun sri-i TIES - 1 July 8 a.m. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 1 5 p.m. 8 p.m. - IN. Children's Parade PRCA Rodeo - Rodeo Grounds Boutique - Community Center DUP Pioneer Museum Tour & Bake Sale Two Mammoth Parades Childrens Youth Theater - Play KSL Kids Night Rodeo (Child 11 and under free with paying adult) BUY TEN OR MORE RODEO TICKETS FOR $3.00 ea. WED. NIGHT ONLY Tickets must be purchased in advance Boutique - Community Center Pet Show - Battle Creek Park DUP Pioneer Museum Tour & Bake Sale Greased Pole Climb - Community Center Childrens Youth Theater - Play Strawberry Days Invitational Men's Softball Tournament Pie Eating Contest - Community Center PRCA Rodeo - Rodeo Grounds Strawberry Days Tennis Tournament Men's Double & VVomens Double Strawberry Days Invitational Softball 5K Strawberry Days Run Boutique - Community Center DUP Pioneer Museum Tour & Bake Sale Final Night of the PRCA Rodeo Rodeo Grounds ( S7.00 Adult - S3 00 Child) City Of Fun Carnival Wednesday through Saturday a KSL TV KSDf RADIO Boots f mMmmwm CHRISTENSEN . t i ..t |