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Show Treatment plants compared Dear Mr. Editor and residents of the Ashley Valley Water & Sewer Improvement Improve-ment District. After having read an advertisement being circulated through out the valley by citizens in favor of Proposition II in the Ashley Valley Water & Sewer Improvement Im-provement Districts coming Tuesday's election concerning Water Treatment Plants, I feel it necessary to publish the following clarification of information given in that hand out sheet and advertisement, adver-tisement, (the sheet appears in this printing of this newspaper) The title of the sheet is "Special Election Information." Informa-tion." May I first state that the sheet was not produced by the Ashley Valley Water and Sewer Improvement District Board of Trustees. I will follow the same order of subjects sub-jects as indicated in the hand out sheet and paid advertisement. 1. Cost-Central Utah Plant-Currently estimated at $6,000,000 to $8,000,000. This plant will have a treatment capacity capaci-ty at least two times greater than the locally owned plant. The actual construction con-struction dollars have already been paid through the collection of taxes by the Central Utah District. Cost-Locally Owned Plant-The bonding bon-ding is for a maximum of $2,500,000. In addition to building the plant it may be necessary to construct a very expensive expen-sive delivery line to serve the plant. This additional cost should not be overlooked. 2. Payment-Central Utah Plant-Payment Plant-Payment is to be made by the Central Utah District with tax dollars already collected. Payment-Locally Owned Plant-It cannot be said that water costs will not increase. I believe those water costs will increase with either plant. If the proposed bonds ($2,500,000) are to be repaid by using $500.00 taken out of the $2,000 collected for each new connection then, as is proposed, and if the bonds are interest free, then it would take 5,000 new connections to pay for the bonds. We presently have fewer than 2500 connections in the Ashley Valley Water and Sewer Improvement System. That means that at least two times our present connections would have to be made in the district to pay for the plant. If the current "slow down" in the area is not reversed that may never happen or at least may not happen for many years. At the present time the AVWSID is using 100 percent of the $2,000 water connection fee to build and maintain new and existing lines. (Many of these lines must be enlarged or replaced as evidenced the last few weeks by the many breaks in lines and shortages of water in the Davis, Naples and South Glines areas. ) If we take $500. or 25 percent per-cent of each new connection to finance a new plant what is there to fill the gap that is left? And where do we get the financing to provide improvements and service to the 5,000 new connections. 3. Operation & Costs-Central Utah Plant-It must be remembered that this plant will treat twice the water of the locally owned plant and also have a , large aquaduct to maintain. Operation & Costs-Locally Owned Plant-This does not include total possible possi-ble costs for operating a plant of this size and the lines servicing it. This factor fac-tor will be low but cannot be determined determin-ed at this time. 4. Treatment-The State of Utah is currently cur-rently studying the treatment necessary for out water sources. Both plants must meet state standards and each will supply safe treated water. 5. Bond-Central Utah District-If the Central Utah Conservacy District determines that it is necessary to bond the counties of the district in order to build facilities for which it does not have sufficient funds, before it can do so it must present the bonding proposition proposi-tion to the counties' residents for a bonding bon-ding vote. If the voting is then successful suc-cessful the Central Utah District may issue bonds not to succeed the amount approved by rate. Those bonds will be paid off by all the citizens using water from Central Utah District Plants. The percent of payment for any group is determined by taking that groups average daily gallon usage of treated water and the percentage it is of the total average daily gallons produced by all Central Utah Districts Plants and multiplying that percentage times the total of the bonds. For example if we will be using five (5) percent of the total treated water produced by the Central Utah District we would then be responsible respon-sible for paying five (5) percent of the total bonds. If the cost of bonds issued totaled ten million dollars ($10,000,000) we would then pay back 5 percent or five hundred thousand ($500,000) over the specified years. And all other participating par-ticipating units would also pay their proportionate share. It needs to be noted that the Central Utah Water Conservancy District has not, to date, issued any bonds but the possibility always exists that they may need to do so. Bond-Local Owned Plant-Until the plant is actually built and all costs determined we cannot state emphatically em-phatically that the repayment can be made from "present rates of water." Nor can we determine that 5,000 new connection will be made in the forseeable future to pay that bill. 6. Control-Central Utah Plant-Correct as stated. Also needs to be noted that the AVWSID would hold seats on an advisory ad-visory board that provides input into the operation of the plant. One last thing you should know about the terms of the contract with the Cen- tral Utah Water Conservancy District is that the duration of the contract is ten (10) years. If at that time we are dissatisfied with operation of the plant or cost of treating the water we need not review the contract but are then free to obtain treated water by other means. I encouragp a!! residpnK nt the Ashley Valley Water & Sewer Improvement Improve-ment District to vote this Tuesday. This will be one of the most important decisions deci-sions moHe m this valley. Everyone that lives within the District or lives in an annexed area of Vernal City but still is a member of the District has the right to vote. If you don't know where to vote telephone the District office at 789-3212 for directions. You may also pick up a copy of the proposed contract with the Uintah Water Conservancy District at our District office in the ulntah Engineering BIdg. Study it and vote from fact not emotion Thank You LARRY HACKING |