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Show Spanish Valley Protests Call for Count Action m Multiple protests have been registered over the past several sev-eral weeks by Spanish Valley res;dents regarding a beaver pond in the area owned and operated by William J. Jones. The pond has overflowed, running across the highway and down drain ditches along the roadside. The residents feel the resulting situation is a health hazard, and could contaminate shallow wells in the area. City and county building inspector, in-spector, Jack Jacques, said a building permit for the concrete pens was issued from his offices. There were no stipulations at that time: however, the State Board of Health approved construction of the facility before it was built. Mr. Jacques said problems arose with the cold weather when the pond waters do not evaporate as in the summer. The pond has overflowed the banks, and many protests have bepn made through his office. "There's no problem in the summer," he said. Mr. Jacaues said he had summoned the State Board of Health representatives to Moab Mo-ab to inspect the pond. "Their comments are confidential, and not open to the public," he said. However, he admitted admit-ted the water samples from the pond had failed to meet Class E standards for BOD count "the water is contaminated con-taminated with animal excretion,'' excre-tion,'' he said. Mr. Jacaues said he believes be-lieves the situation is a County Coun-ty Commission issue. He does feel the owner should have made provision for water disposal The pond has been an issue for several months and when the Commissioners return from the annual County Coun-ty Officers meeting in Salt Lake City, he will attempt to set up a meeting to see what is to be done. County Health Officer, Dr. Paul Mayberry, inspected t;he pond' after the matter was called to his attention Tuesday. Tues-day. He said he had never received re-ceived any report from the State Board of Health regarding re-garding the issue, which was called to his attention by citizens. Without knowing what sort of treatment the water has had, he said it would be impossible im-possible to determine whether wheth-er or not a health hazard exists. ex-ists. "If the water is not treated, it is," he said. "And it is definitely a highway hazard," ha-zard," the Doctor commented comment-ed upon return from his in-' in-' spection tour. He said the pond runoff had crossed the h'srhwav. spreading a sheet of ice across the road. Dr. Mayberry said it appeared ap-peared the Commission was side-stepping an issue that was their's to decide. The State is willing to give beneficial bene-ficial advice on such matters, he noted, but it is up to local authorities to make changes. "It is a county problem, and a possible health hazard, and - the Commission should make a stand." Dr. Mayberry said he attempted at-tempted Tuesday to contact the Commission to discuss the issue, and as soon as they return from Salt Lake City a meeting will be arranged. Mr. Jones, owner, of the beaver farm, said the winter snows had created the problems. prob-lems. "There wouldn't have been any runoff had not the wind blown snow in," he said. Mr. Jones said the snow piled up in places 2 or 3 feet deep, and when he realized water was getting to the danger line, he let some out. He said as soon as it was monetarily possible he planned plan-ned to buy a pump and use the water to irrigate his land, probably within the next two 1 or three months. Mr. Jones said the water had been tested by the State, but as far as he knew the report only indicated it was not approved for culinary use. No alarm was sounded as far as it being a health hazard, he said. He stated he had some complaints com-plaints about odor, but had takes complainers on tour and they had been unable to pinpoint the scent. He said he could not detect any odor except when cleaning cells. Certainly, he said, there is not as much odor as in a barnyard. The water circulates circu-lates through the pens at all times, he said, flows into a settling pond, then down the barrow pit for a half mile, across brush land for another half mile and into Pack creek. So far there has been no water wa-ter reaching the creek, however, how-ever, it soaks into the earth before it goes that far. He has a 3-inch outlet, he explained. ex-plained. V Mr. Jones said there are similar beaver ponds within the city limits of Springville and three or four in Provo, and as far as he knew titers were no complaints there. |