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Show wy iimi 9 i WEEKLY REFLEX DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL, AUGUST 2, 1979 Using Willard Bay Water By GARY R. BLODGETT LAYTON Weber Basin Water Conservancy District may have found a new source or at least an expanded source of water for Davis and Weber County residents. ITS ' - ONLY a long-sh- at the present time, but Wayne M. Winegar, derived from presently district manager, outlined a proposed program of using water from Willard Bay to supplement municipal and industrial (M&I) water in the two-- : county area. To implement such a program would be costly, but it is possible, said Mr. Winegar. In fact, I think its something you will see happen in the near future. HE EMPHASIZED that the proposal to use Willard Bay water for residental and industrial use is still in the preliminary stages, "but it might be a way of supplementing water from 'Weber Basin which is MR. who APOSTLE, et the a water treatment plant .and a major h of Each will have a golf course, one being Patio Springs. Construction is expected to begin within five years and completed within 20 years, the developer said. , et into . Ogden Valley. et going residences, it was explained. MR. APOSTLE was also told that he would have to pay some unpaid water bills owed to the district as a result of reclassification of some water. Mr. Winegar explained that it would involve construction his residential development includes 1,000 to 1,500 homes at each of three different sites in the Middle Fork area of developer, told the board that he contracted with the district of in 1971 for 500 acre-feirrigation water which could be treated as culinary water. Mr. Winegar said Mr. Apostle had in the contract a provision tor increased water useage up to 5,000 acre-feby Weber Basin has only 1,700 of unsold culinary acre-fe(treated) water without going to a supplemental source such as Willard Bay. Mr. Winegar suggested that the board of directors approve the water allocation to Mr. water developed Patio Springs, said former football coach and land later, Also, a large treatment plant will have to be built by . the developers to treat the reservoir. CHRIS APOSTLE, NOW, EIGHT years lines. amount pumped from the projected residential subdivisions in Ogden Valley. 1981. from the reservoir into their Apostle, based on approval from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, that the water be pumped from Pineview and that water be used from Willard Bay to replace that several upstream dams, In fact, one major proposal came to the districts board of directors last Friday morning whereby a developer wants to pump water directly from Pineview Reservoir into the THE DISTRICT board of directors stipulated that the additional water allocated to Mr. Apostle and the Patio Springs Development Company would be classified as municipal water and that the developers would have to pay municipal water costs and all costs of pumping the water north-sout- water line that could be used to serve expected residential expansion in the western valley of Weber and Davis counties. HE SAID there are at. least 50,000 acre-feof water that could be used from Willard Bay any normal year.- This is', equivalent to the municipal and industrial water sold an- nually by the district. et - Bob Hensley, director. of municipal water sales for the district, told the board that the proposed water treatment water beyond Bay economics. FOR EXAMPLE, how will the use of water from Willard Bay affect fishing, boating; plant' to serve Willard Bay would postpone for several years or even eliminate, need for a costly enlargement of the water plant now operating camping and other recreational facilities at the bay? FROM Willard Bay would also utilize $4 million worth of pumping stations and holding ponds built two years ago as part of an emergency drought problems. in Ogden. WATER never used project but because of normal runoff of upstream water. He said the district has sold all but about 1,700 acre-feof of its alloted 5,000 acre-feet et municipal and industrial water, all of which is stored in upstream reservoirs. THE FINAL sales of our alloted water means an end to easy water in the district, said Mr. Winegar. From now on, water is going to be more difficult to come by and definitely more costly to provide to our customers. But there will be problems connected with using Willard These problems were not discussed at length at the recent board meeting, but were suggested as potential DISTRICT officials emphasized, however, that Weber Basin would be allowed to use only about of water or 50.000 acre-feet less of the inflow each year. It was explained that over a period, the average annual inflow from canyon streams into Willard Bay was much more 87.000 acre-fee- t, than would be pumped from the bay. THE BOARD authorized the district to further study the Willard Bay proposal noting that additional water sources must be found and that if feasible, use of Willard Bay water would take a lot of pressure off of upstream water storage. Feels Money Should; Be For Downtown Use future development. Recently, we became aware that the Redevelopment Agency has about $1 million of available funds at this time, and the Agency has voted to spend the money to a new proposed shopping complex across from the city hall. town district? Shouldnt the downtown area merit more concern? Bountiful is too small to support, successively, so many split shopping areas. Our central downtown Main Street does not have the heavy traffic that is flowing in the direction of Fifth South and down to freeway. Its very possible that the city may have the extra expense of an additional street to take care of more traffic in the understand that this a proposed very vital concern for the historical Get Gut? By TOM BUSSELBERG Davis County is a member of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, a planning agency headquartered in five-coun- ty Bountiful. IT HAS been affiliated with the agency 1972 and works with Salt Lake, Weber, Morgan and Tooele counties in obtaining funding and technical assistance for projects as varied as roads, air planning. pollution and land-us- e There has been talk of late to pull Davis, Morgan and Weber counties out of the WFRC. The trio would form a separate planning agency to do essentially the same things for which WFRC was chartered. since THE FIVE-count- y agency is one of several set up originally by Gov.. Calvin L. Rampton to coordinate activities of a regional interest and work jointly in ob- taining grants. Other such agencies closest to Davis include Mountainlands serving Utah, Summit and Wasatch counties and the Bear Lake Council for several Utah and Idaho counties. According to the WFRC charter, the organization exists as a voluntary organization of governments to foster a cooperative effort in resolving problems, policies, and plans that are common to two or more counties or are regional in nature. MORE DETAIL shows that purpose to be: To serve as a common forum to identify, discuss, study and bring into focus regional challenges and opportun- ities; to foster, develop and review policies, plans and priorities for regional growth, development and conservation. Such plans would include water supply, land use, housing, transportation, regional air and water pollution control and regional recreational and open space requirements. The Council also is chartered to work toward agreement and cooperative action proposals for specific projects or in- terrelated developmental needs and adoption of common policies, is to furnish general and technical aid jo member gavoernments as they direct and to review and coordinate federal, state and local programs of regional importance and be eligible to serve as the official review agency for the Office of Management and Budget Circular 5 acting on behalf of and under recommendations of the County Councils of Governments. THE AGENCY is also supposed to "promote the updating of state legislation as it applies to the county, city and town governments and development of closer and more formal cooperation and coordination with the state legislative representatives of the region to more ably represent the region in bringing about desired changes in legislation. Those sound like very noble goals. Certainly in this day and age where no man is an island I think everyone realizes the need for cooperation between different governments, just as homeowners may call on a plumber or carpenter to provide service, at times. A DIVIDED WFRC was first proposed for discussion by the Davis County Com- mission during an attempted closed meeting two weeks ago. No decisions were made in that haphazardly-calle- d meeting held after a regular County Council of Governments session. A special meeting was set for Aug. 1 with county mayors and commissioners. In talking with several mayors before the meeting, it would seem most would like a lot more information before opting to either go it alone," so to speak, with Weber and Morgan counties or stick with (he five county status quo. AS WOODS Cross Mayor Lawrence Urry said, My inclination is that 1 need more information. I would hesitate to draw out of the present group without more information. As with so many complex issues, there are very definite pros and cons on both sides, as Mayor Norman Sant of Sunset expressed. I can see Davis County being a third or fourth stepsister well be the same no matter what. Either we sit quietly or we assert ourselves. THE THING Im concerned about is that many mayors feel the WFRC is overstaffed (it has 23 employees), and is another layer of government. The feeling of some mayors is that they (WFRC) dictate rather than recommend. If it were split, the combined staff of the two would probably be larger (than present WFRC staff). WFRC has served as a nucleus on At several issues, he continued. present there is a concerted effort on the sales tax (to change distribution), and WFRC is serving as the staff. Mayor Sant is member of a related committee and said the whole idea wouldnt be possible to pursue without WFRC help. BREAKING AWAY, some say, we would have more equal representation. Right now Im very mixed, he said. I am concerned about the number of people in the present WFRC and the role they play beyond advisory. Possibly we could have the same problems with a new front (organization). But he then made what I consider a very worthwhile point. I dont know if weve made all the effort we could to solve some of the differences." The mayor then expressed concern at not being contacted about the issue before the last COG meeting, which he didnt attend. And more than that, he asked why the county commission went to the governor about a split without involving any mayors. AND HE brought up a point echoed by other mayors. I think the Wasatch Front does an excellent job and I sometimes think we dont know how to use them." Some have said the WFRC responds too heavily to Salt Lake County needs but Mayor Sant had a good, realistic answer when he said: Common sense tells you where they (WFRC) have to respond. Salt Lake is the seat of government and the majority of federal grants go there. y involvement takes the Wasatch Front more to Salt Lake. Day-to-da- EXTRA EXPENSE rtaff-wis- e was a concern brought up by most mayors, when they were asked about it. At the same time, the majority said they hadnt thought much about the matter. But almost surely, the present WFRC staff could not be broken up without adding additional personnel somewhere were a new regional council formed. As 1 said, the present WFRC staff numbers 23, reduced from 30 several years ago, and includes 20 professional and three secretarial positions. It serves a population of about 800,000 people. , WERE MORGAN, Weber and Davis to form their own agency, population served d would be about 280,000, or roughly the present WFRC. But staff isnt totally dependant on population. Perhaps a look at Mountainlands Association of Governments would help. Mountainlands serves a population of about 200,000 and has a staff of 16 one-thir- including nine planners or professionals. Executive Director Homer Chandler said his staff had been cut from 35 five years ago to the benefit of the agency. We are doing far more work and providing far better service than previously. We have streamlined our programs and got rid of some we didnt feel were regional in nature. We are dealing strictly with planning or delivery of technical services." IN COMPARING to WFRC he continued, We operate more programs with a smaller staff and budget. Our elected officials have clearly defined our work and activity and we are very much involved in handling social programs (unlike WFRC). Those include drug and j LDS Tabernacle located in downtown district. This building has contributed a unique and beautiful addi-- . tion to our citv. IF THE money appropriated could be concentrated to aid our downtown area, we could have one of the most outstanding and beautiful cities in Utah. The downtown area is the obvious candidate for the use of these urban renewal funds. law enforcement and senior citizens program. Besides the nine county commissioners, 17 mayors sit on the council board, all with equal power, Mr. Chandler continued. We have not faced a conflict between the cities and counties. In all the decisions I cant think of one (where there was disagreement. WFRC has a mixture of some mayors and com- missioners on its member board. he didnt feel it justified to base the split on benefits gained by not working directly with Salt Lake County. We were going overboard to balance things and I think if that (Salt Lake County dominance) were the reason I personally think if there were a split Salt Lake County would be better off. We wouldnt have to play big brother. Weber County Commissioner Boyd Storey said the split could bring the I Council closer to area residents. believe if we could bring it more closely to the people it would allow more people to serve on it." alcohol, . HE SAID clear-cu- t definitions of roles by cities and counties have helped make ' regional government a viable solution to problems in his area. We feel the concept of a regional approach is very valid provided the city and county councils are very involved in getting things going." Of course, regional government might be a must for Wasatch and Summit counties, both having relatively small',. populations of 10,000 or less compared to Utah Countys more than 170,000. BUT HE added that further study would be necessary and said the proposal , . BUT WHATEVER the economic need for success, it would appear the mayors leap. What about WFRCs leaning too heavily in favor of Salt Lake County? Before anything is said, I think it should be remembered that Salt Lake County conmore than tains about 500,000 people programs were cited as examples. He said support existed for the proposal from commissioners in the three counties. It appears his biggest gripe with WFRC centers on a shortchange in transportation funds. But he really had no other concrete reasons for the break in a telephone interview. the state total and nearly four times Davis or Weber counties populations. No matter which way Davis would , go, that fact cannot be forgotten when the state or federal government cuts up the financial pie. d AND HAVING someone with expertise to look out for county and regional AND WFRC Executive Director Will Jefferies echoed that sentiment after a telephone conversation with the commissioner. I get the feeling some people just want out and are grasping for reasons. Were the front to be divided, its effectiveness in dealing with state and federal agencies would be cut, he said. And he pointed to several areas he felt could be considered feathers in WFRCs hat, including formation of Utah Transit interests can certainly be an advantage, as brought out by Bountiful Mayor Elmer Barlow. The new staff doesnt (wouldn't) have the expertise to deal with in and at Washington. We need an present I feel we have more rapport and we shouldnt jump out of something where its not entirely good until we know if the other is better. Perhaps were the county to speak with a louder voice and carry a bigger stick more help might come its way, he continued, citing 2600 South and Orchard Drive as examples. 1 think the city and county have to take the blame on their shoulders. Davis County had to do the environmental impact study and now they say that takes two years. Ifwere going to drag our feet another council might be no better off." Authority; statewide; the first federal aid transportation project in Davis County. And while the Syracuse Interchange has yet to be built it wouldnt even be in the planning stages without WFRC aid, he contended. By dividing the council, another government agency would be created and interaction would still be necessary with Salt Lake and Tooele counties, forcing possible creation of still another agency, Mr. Jefferies continued. AND THERES already enough red tape in trying to get a myriad of different agencies to cooperate in providing transportation for handicapped and elderly for example, he explained. If WFRC were broken up, some funding might be entirely lost to the state, Mr. Jefferies said, noting that $556,000 in federal Environmental Protection Agency funding was awarded to WFRC though only $400,000 was requested. A EPA sees future problems with solid waste disposal and they feel WFRC is the proper place to spend the money. transportation funding in general, noting that $2.5 million is projected cost for the Bountiful project. The whole allotment (in a new council) might total $700,000. It would take two to three allotments (over that many years) if everyone else was cut out of it on a road standpoint. I think wed be behind, personally. Lake County said his county might benefit were there a split but added that bodies, to IT WAS Wasatch Front impetus that got 5th South in Bountiful improved as portation committee chairman, added another important point concerning IN TALKING to commissioners from Weber and Salt Lake counties. Commission Chairman William E. Dunn of Salt standard building permits changes in annexation procedures for government name a few. FUNDING FOR that project has been moved back on the list of priorities, supposedly because preliminary work to have been completed by Bountiful and Davis County hasnt been completed. Mayor Barlow, who is current trans- DRAGGING OF feet could definitely be a problem for Davis County. Its representatives on the council in the past havent been known for attending meetings, oft times, or taking great part in what goes on at WFRC. And the council is only as strong as its weakest part. Mayor Gar Elison from Kaysville brought that point to a head when he said, "I don't think some committees even meet (he sits on the physical resources committee). My committee hasnt met and I think there are some issues, such as land use and housing (of importance)." , A MAN who seems to be solidly behind the split is Davis County Commission Chairman Glen Flint. He feels the county is already tied more to Weber and Morgan counties than Salt Lake and Tooele. Cooperation on water quality programs, MOWEDA, the youth detention center, Golden Spike Empire and manpower and others could learn something Mr. Chandler before taking a one-thir- had not formally been discussed by his countys COG but was on the agenda for their Thursday night meeting. Indeed, that was a point made by virtually everyone contacted. More study is needed and many questions remain unanswered. I WERE SEVERAL smaller agencies to compete for funding all might lose, he said. And if the council splits, it would be at least a year before activities could begin with the new agency, with all contracts just signed for another year. Like most of the mayors, I dont know which way would be better for Davis County. I would just hope that some concrete answers will be forthcoming in Wednesday nights meeting. Theres more at stake than being a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small one. Im afraid. area. WE WOULD like to have our main part of town to be the active shopping area instead of a split shopping district. The merchants on Main Street have drawn up a plan to improve their buildings and want to bring in new business. Several large and beautiful stores would like to already established downtown area. Just recently, the people of Bountiful rallied to improve and preserve and remodel the J v PUT off the downtown beautification? This area has long been established. Should our city officials be more vitally interested in the down- money was allocated to our city for blighted areas and to make improvements within the shopping areas. WE AS citizens do have - WHY WE ARE sorry to learn that the city officials have already committed the initial funding to a new shopping complex west of Main Street between 600 and 800 South. We . locate in downtown Bountiful. WHY CANT we improve and preserve the downtown shopping area now, and use the money allocated for the blighted areas, instead of adding another split shopping area which is obviously not INSTEAD THE city officials are leaning toward the appropriation of this money 40 another shopping complex. The downtown merchants have hoped and voiced their concern that the Redevelopment Agency would aid them now, instead of waiting for the Agency funds to underwrite blighted. Joseph H. Palmer, Rhea R. Palmer, Meredith F. Palmer, Coy J. Hayward Josephine S. Reinhardt, Lloyd B. Carr, Gladys Palmer, Dr: W.A. Barton, R. Alvin Moss,' Alta H. Taylor Davis Gives Go Ahead For Emission Contol By GARY R. BLODGETT FARMINGTON County Commission federal grant with no added expense from the county. IF AT the end of the first phase of the program. .the - Davis the gave go ahead to a plan by the countys environmental health department for an inspection and maintenance program for air quality control. RICHARD HARVEY, environmental health director, outlined the proposal, to the commission last Thursday. The proposed program, however, is only for a three-monperiod which could be renewed by the commission for another 18 months, until July 1, 1981. th MR. HARVEY said the e of the program would be setting up of a staff first-phas- to educate .and inform the public about emission and pollutant problems in Davis County. We need to change the attitudes of many Davis County he said. Davis residents, County is not free of pollutants, in fact it often violates the monitoring standards especially in the Bountiful area. HE EXPLAINED that driving habits must be changed in years to come. An informa- tion and education program, aimed at reducing emission by 25 percent, should include (1) shopping closer to home: (2) gett..ib more invoked in car pools; and (3) minimum use of the family auto. Mr. Harvey also suggested the organization of a board to direct the proposed inspection and maintenance program for the county. HE SAID the department (environmental health) plans the purchase of a van which can be used to set up monitoring stations throughout the county. The van could be used at parking lots, etc., convenient to the public, said Mr. Harvey. "We would then attempt to educate the public to the need of having their emission control devices inspected and maintained. We would hope this could be done on a. voluntary basis. HE EMPHASIZED that up to 30 percent of the vehicles on the highway today are not properly equipped with pollutant devices. "But even if we inspected every car in Davis County, there would be a lot of cars who pass through the county with faulty devices, said . commission was impressed with the way the program was being carried out, then it could be proposed for another 18 months, said Mr. Harvey. He explained that features of the interim program to reduce vehicular emissions between August 1979 and July 1, 1981, will include: v.::c 1. A vigorous public relations and media campaign intended to educate Davis County residents concerning current the air-quali- ty problems in the county and their causes. 2. Educate the public con- cerning the benefits of motor properly tuned . vphirlpQ 3. EDUCATE - 4 the public concerning proper driving habits to reduce vehicular emissions and increased : mileage. 4 Educate the public on the and necessity proper maintenance of pollution control equipment factory-installe- d on their vehicles. 5. and ENCOURAGE provide voluntary vehicular testing. 6. Promote use transportation. ' ; mass of ' i PROMOTE car pooling: 8. Promote minimum use pf 5 the family auto. 7. 9. PROMOTE shopping : close to home. 10. Devise a method By which autos in violation of the law by removing factory-installe- d emission-controlle- d equipment can be apprehended. : COUNTY commissioners emphasized that by giving the okay to begin this program does not lock the commis- sion into any long-rang- e program but does open the door to such a long-rang- e program if the commission approves the program after the first three month phase: The Latest HEW Outrage The Department of Housing, Education and Welfare; Ernest probably the most wasteful and extravagant in the federal government (which is saying a lot), recently demotect'p public spirited employee who refused to accept a raise. ANDREW BAVAS, of Chicago, rejected the $2,272 pay hike, according 36 MR. HARVEY said he would not recommend a mandatory or forced inspection program. Rather, 1 would like to see the public educated to the need and have the inspections on a volunteer basis. He told the commission that the first phase of the program would be financed by a $29,524 bureaucrats told him he had to accept though We was already making $43,000.a year as an associate professor at Northwestern University. He was working a, the schools center for urban affairs, which HEW is funding; Because he still refused ro accept the pay increase, HEW then transferred him to-lesser paying job 3h Philadelphia. Commissioner Eberhard. Grit, but federal a |