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Show C Y M C K Y A4 Sanpete Messenger M K Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Utah agency to monitor Manti water Moroni pursues Wastewater program water-rate increase to check treatment pond flow, depth By Judy Chantry Staff writer MANTI—Paul Krauth, Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ), made a presentation to the Manti City Council at the July 15 meeting concerning wastewater treatment. Krauth later said in an interview that for the past 40 years, many wastewater treatment ponds in the county have not been monitored for groundwater seepage, and in 2008 the state law changed to bring wastewater ponds under the purview of the DWQ. Initially, DWQ is implementing a five-year program to check the flow and how deep the water is in each wastewater treatment pond, collecting data on seepage into groundwater in order to make projections 50-100 years out, he said. At the council meeting, he explained that the city needs to fill out an application for a permit which is good for five years. The permit costs nothing, and all the city is asked to do is complete and submit reports on flow to sewage ponds, pond depth and flow measurement discharged in 24 hours during a 30-day period. “The best way to measure pond depth is a simple concrete walk,” said Krauth. He went on to say that lagoon liners do leak, and regular measurements can indicate if there is a problem. “We just want everyone to understand why we are implementing this program. We are looking at ponds that are out there called seepage ponds. Some goes off in evaporation, and some may go into the ground, and there is a possibility to contaminate groundwater,” Krauth said. Members of the city council agreed that the request is not unreasonable, and the city will comply with the program. Councilman Loren Thompson brought up the issue of the amps allowed by temporary electric service to construction sites, a problem that has come up twice in the last two months. “Currently we have no policy, and we have run into a problem with insufficient amps to run Free outdoor Concert featuring Emerson Drive at the Castle Dale Fairgrounds Friday August 8th at 7:00 pm Bring blankets and lawnchairs. Everyone Welcome. construction on new sites,” said Thompson. The two issues mentioned were at the construction at the elementary school and more recently at the new stake center at the end of Union Street. “Why do they have to sit and wait for power for their trailers?” said Thompson. Councilman Alan Justesen suggested we should do whatever it takes to accommodate the needs of new construction. Just because it hasn’t been done in the past doesn’t mean that we can’t change. In this day with construction sites using computers, copiers, fax machines and air conditioners, it has become necessary to update the policy, Justesen said. Mickelson will set up a meeting with the city electrician to see if the issues can be resolved. On another matter, Bill Mickelson displayed a map showing a possible revision of the flood zone. “The initial flood insurance rate map started at the mouth of the canyon going diagonally encompassing two-thirds of the community,” said Mickelson. He stated that the city has been pursuing a rework on the plan for some time. Flood insurance can run as high as $800 per year, and if a resident is building and they are in the flood zone, they have to pay the insurance. “We have advertised to have people come in and look at the proposed revision. The ones who should be concerned are the ones that are on the edge of it,” he said. The new flood zone area is a whole lot smaller than it was, and insurance rates won’t change for more than a year. Mayor Madsen invited Cole Mecham, football coach at Manti High School, to say a few words about Devon Frishknecht who has been drafted into the NFL to play for the Green Bay Packers. Cole said Devon was one of the funnest kids he ever coached. “He never had to be asked twice to do anything,” said Mecham. He went on to say that Devon was successful academically as well as in athletics. Madsen said Devon is a great representative of Manti, and there is a town full of people who will probably become Green Bay Packer fans. With that, the city council signed a Resolution of Recognition and offered congratulations to Devon. Also presented with a Resolution of Recognition was Susan Hatch, representing the girls softball coaching staff of Manti High School. It was noted that the team has won a 2A State Championship four out of the past five years. “You have done a tremendous job, and congratulations to the Manti High School softball team,” commented Mayor Madsen. By C.R. Truitt Staff writer MORONI—Moroni City Council held their second public hearing in preparation for culinary and irrigation rate changes just prior to the regular July 16 council meeting. Councilman Orson Cook said the city owns the water shares, which the city pays the irrigation companies for. When the city took over the irrigation system 10 years ago, they set the $10.50 per riser limit, and the city is asking for a $1 raise, which he said still won’t cover the cost of operating. He said running a pump costs $2,500 a month, and the city has delivered irrigation water where other towns have turned it off. Cook said the city allowed people with new lawns to water when they needed to. He stressed being conservative with the water by saying the city has to be proactive. One resident said she believed that, when the city took over the irrigation, they promised not to raise rates. Cook said it was a rumor. Cook said the city would raise culinary water system charges a little. The city plans to raise the rate of $2.50 per 1,000 gallons over the limit to $3 and to raise the limit from 6,000 to 8,000 gallons before the extra charge kicks in. He said the base rate would continue to be $12.50, and overages above 8,000 would be $3.50 per 1,000 gallons. The council will vote on the changes at the first meeting in August. In the regular meeting, city employee Bert Kendall said that Twin D, the company that cleaned the sewer lines and took videos of the inside of the pipes, said they would do part of the town for $7,200 and then come back to finish for another $7,600. Kendall said the last time the sewer pipes had been cleaned was in 2004, and he’s been told that they should be cleaned about every five years. The council discussed the possibility of purchasing the equipment and have employees do the work but made no decision at this time. Pipher announced that three people are running for mayor, and they were current councilmen Todd Pay and Paul Green and former councilman Paul Bailey. Signed up to run for the two open council seats were Councilman Orson Cook, Tyler Bailey and Tom Dyches Jr. Sterling raises fees Shop at Home First! on some city services By John Hales Managing Editor STERLING—The Sterling Town Council raised fees on several services this month. At a council meeting on July 15, council members agreed to raise certain water, cemetery and business fees. “Current water rates are not sufficient for the present and future increases in the cost of providing water to the residents,” said Mayor Garry Bringhurst. Bringhurst also indicated the increase may have been meant to encourage careful, if not less, use of water. “We have a pressing need to use water in a more efficient manner for sustained growth of the community,” he said. The town upped the monthly water charge to $20 for water up to 7,000 gallons. Beyond that, the charge is $3.50 for every 1,000-gallon overage. The town also put some teeth into how it deals with delinquent water accounts. Accounts 60 days past due will be assessed a $10 late charge. Accounts 90 days past due will receive a $15 charge and a shutoff notice. Water will be shut off if an account reaches 120 days past due, and a $50 fee will be charged to restore the service. In addition, the account will require a $50 deposit which will be refundable “once good credit is restored,” the rate-change ordinance stated. The town also raised cemetery fees for nonresidents, though it also defined a resident as someone who has lived in the 84665 zip code anytime in the last 15 years. “The reason we’re raising these rates is because the cost of opening and closing graves has gone up,” Mayor Bringhurst said. “We’ve had people come in from out of town, out of state saying, ‘I was born in Sterling,” … and then they buy 10 plots. It really should go to people that have lived here, and who contribute to the Town of Sterling.” The standard plot fee is now $300 for residents, $750 for nonresidents. The standard grave opening/closing fee for everyone is $300 on weekdays, and on Saturdays or holidays is $400 for residents and $500 for nonresidents. The city also raised the fee for a business license to $50 and raised the beer-license fee to the same amount. SUMMER CLEARANCE SALE All clothing and household items $1 or less Excluding consignment July 30-31, August 1 Neven’s Thrift Boutique 152 West Main Mt. Pleasant Ephraim City FALL SOCCER SIGNUPS Open for ages 4-14 yrs old Cost will be $25 with a $10 late fee after the 7th of August Sign ups are now and will end on the 7th of August. Applications will be taken after the 14th. Pick up registration forms and register at Ephraim City offices. For more information and questions contact Tish Larsen 851-1605 or Ephraim City. C Y M K C Y M K |