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Show Sunset Protests Water Fee Charge By MARK D. MICKELSEN SUNSET Sunset city cannot possibly absorb a $10 per acre foot increase in Weber Basin water rates without passing pas-sing it on to residents. SO SAYS Mayor Norm Sant, who Thursday told city council members that representatives repre-sentatives from the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District are asking for a massive mas-sive increase in water rates beginning be-ginning in 1983. Weber Basin officials claim the $ 10 per acre foot increase is needed to offset maintenance and operations costs which, during 1980-81, hit the $800,000 mark. Officials say the district has been dipping into its interest funds to cover maintenance and operations. IF MAINTENANCE and operation costs are not being adequately handled, Weber Basin says there may be another $10 per acre foot in-" crease imposed in 1984. Mayor Sant said he's talked with representatives from other communities who agree that the fee increase is exhorbi-tant exhorbi-tant and warned city council members that if the increase is approved "there is no way we can absorb that." THE AMOUNT would be so significant, he said, "that it would have to be passed on to the residents." The mayor said the proposed prop-osed increase could cause a $40,000-$50,0O0 hike in the city's ci-ty's water department budget. UNLIKE OTHER member cities who are actively protesting protest-ing the increase. Sunset officials offi-cials said they want a thorough re-evaluation of the proposal , and a meeting with Weber Basin representatives. Several local communities including Clearfield and the Bonnevista Water District are joining together to fight the increase. in-crease. Clearfield City Council members recently voiced strong opposition to the rate increase and "went on record" re-cord" as protesting the hike. |