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Show ipa ion Hi Bd Wasatch County Mirrors National Divide - asatch Y = tonne in its own little way, mirrors the divi- sion that we see on the national LI im Bt I DECEMBER 13, 2000 WASATCH COUNTY COURIER former County Attorney Joe Tesch, along with the expenditure of public _ funds for that purpose, was legal. Hopefully, the Utah Supreme Court will accept the case and rule had hoped with the us we could move toeicn behind | on collectively decide where to have Boys” to coffee, much towards fixing the ills of this county. less how to scam the public.-They are Most. hard working honest souls, who have the community’s best interests in of declared the people a desire to who have run voted mind. If the choice is seven “Good Qld Boys,” as opposed to three scene. We have a group of sore los- Ll can’t get four “Good Old ers, the County Commissioners, “Good Old Boys,” give us seven every time. If we have a broad cross-section of which refuse to accept defeat. They have scheduled elections for the candidates, a few new folks will probably be on the existing council. But we ' would bet the majority will be full time residents. Nothing wrong with that. new county council as late as possi- ble, disregarding the will of the vot- _ Such a scenario could serve to bring us closer as a community. Which is just what we need right now. But a few sore losers are willing to risk any chance of ers and, apparently, the advice of their own legal counsel. Similar to the national issue, will be resolved in the courts. The Initiative sponsors filed a petition with the Utah Supreme Court last Friday asking for a decision regarding a new election date. An unexpected plus of this action conciliation to pursue their own tionable agendas. a es Asphalt Plant Update: As predicted on this page last week, the Board of Adjustment moved sideways. After is the petition asks the court if the decimating their own membership by removal of the recall provisions removing Annie McMullen and John Lloyd they didn’t have enough mem- (the ability to remove an elected official), at county insistence, was proper. It further asks if the attempt to defeat the Initiative - by -~the County Commissioners, the County Attorney, against the Initiative and could be called “Good Old Boys.” We strongly encourage them to do so. Heck, you WLIO | the Utah Association of Counties and quickly. Like the national issue, the longer this lingers, the more polarized the electorate will become. We bers left for a quorum, so, they postponed the decision to their next meeting. We rte scene of the - plant. - Wallsburg: A Dry Town Forever? — COURIER s of Dec. 11-the town of OI UU TO. THE Wallsburg had missed the end of November deadline imposed tion system. But if it pumps more water from this well than it has water rights to, it will be stealing water from for future growth. would merely come into line with what the other residents in the county currently Bureau Three-hundred acre-feet would cost $75,000 per year at current, discount- "pay. upon it for new applications for sup- ed rates. Once water rates increase to. _In the absence of newly acquired normal market values, the town of — water rights, the town of Wallsburg plemental Wallsburg could be confronted with dra- and M&l water industrial). Wallsburg The currently does (municipal town of not have enough water rights to service its existing needs, let alone meet additional demands placed upon its water system by future growth. _ insufficient to meet its current short- _ fall. According to Bryant Riddle, former _ president Irrigation of Company, Main Creek the town matically ‘water | has costs. town | of _ O least 37 acre-feet to cover their current shortfall. | of - Wallsburg stole about $14,250 worth of water last year from other Main Creek market values, the town of Wallsburg could | minor to water rates PAL PEUSE to normal expense could be covered without any expense : ie ade ae $9,250 per year. This relatively : at current, discounted rates. Walisburg needs at foot, 37 additional acre-feet would cost : would cost $75. 000 per year _ According to Riddle, the oe be confronted with dramatically — water current users by charging new users of the costs from other tain Creek of Reclamation. Reclamation, The with - its greater financial resources, may be less tolerant of theft than other Main Creek shareholders who would have falls, the manner in which it does so will dramatically affect its future costs. Irrigation If it is not able to-buy additional CUP ~ shareholders © who resent water from Jordanelle Reservoir, it will - {he ~ town’s. theft of their water. Poe ee The Bo es chances_ of “prevailing in this _ lawsuit are about nil | since all: parties agree that the town is taking more _ water than it has rights to. In the past, town water line a hook-up fee. With at least one or two houses being added to — the town has received notification from the line every year, the town could -. the state’s regional water rights mancover its current water needs without ager that if it is drawing more water stealing water or charging water users higher rates. than it has rights to, itis doing so illegally. One share of M&I water, or one share of culinary water, currently sells for buy enough water to meet its future _.Of course, if the town decided to’ of . most — to finance a civil lawsuit themselves. likely face. a - While the town of Wallsburg will inevitably have to buy water from civil lawsuit in the spring somewhere to meet its current short- Irrigation shareholders. For the past few years, cities in the county have been able to buy water rights at a discounted rate. from the Central Utah Water Project (CUP): existing Bureau will Three-bundred acre-feet Poet At $250 per acre- Wallsburg currently has an application with the county for an additional 20 acre-feet of water but this amounti is pump additional water from: its well, instead of drawing it from the irriga-_ $250. Past estimates of Wallsburg’ = needs in ide to eoverne its curfuture water needs place it as high as -- rent shortfall, additional money would an additional 300 acre-feet. Although have to be raised. Although higher the town can get by with less water, rates would have to be charged, this amount would enable them to plan | Wallsburg’s abnormally low’ rates One option the town of Wallsburg ~ has to meet its current shortfall is to place an enormous financial burden on its residents in the future. Instead of buying water at a discounted rate, it. will have to buy its water on the open market at unsubsidized rates. This’ would cost much more that the $10,000 per year that the town’ would. currently have to pay. But since the town has ead missed the November deadline that was placed upon it by Commissioner — ' Mike Kohler, its future does not look good. Unless quick action is taken soon, it looks like Wallsburg will be a _ dry town forever. Sam Allen is-a shareholder in the Main Creek Irrigation Company. Ae ETO SAM ALLEN SPECIAL gi to € |