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Show o Volume 80, Number 16 needed water from the Bear river is flowing the Bothwell and Thatcher-Penrosareas via this CRITICALLY into e Brigham City, Utah, Sunday Morning, April 17, 1977 canal two weeks ahead of schedule so farmers, such as the one seen furrowing his ground in the center of the Firm on job Lack of citizens can help in survey for water leaks BC It appears plans for the Brigham City Kiwanis clubs 1977 Environ- ment improvement contest may fall Citizens in Brigham City can assist in finding leaks in the local water system. How? By minimizing their use of water between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This was the message of City Councilman Peter C. Knudson Thursday in a report to his fellow councilmen. Pitometer Associates, Chicago, began a survey of the system this past week. The objective is to locate leaks. Right not measurements indicate that about three million gallons daily are being lost somewhere in the system. Theres no reason for concern at present. Even with the loss, this northern Utah community has more water than it can use. But Mayor Harold B. Felt said if springs producing the citys culinary water supply begin to drop, then having the leaks repaired will be real helpful. Councilman Knudson said testing in the system is taking place during the hours when residents are being asked to restrict 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. water use The method used, involving velocity and pipe area can better be accomplished with citizen cooperation, he explained. The study is expected to take from three to four months to complete. Dr. Knudson disclosed that Pitometer Associates this past week measured flow into the city system. Over a period some 5,390,000 gallons were received. It was then determined that 3,010,000 gallons were being lost somewhere in the system, the amount of water not accounted for in local daily usage. This was the same conclusion previously arrived at by the city engineer, utilizing the citys flow meter. Dr. Knudson said it means that 55.84 percent of the water entering the city system is being lost. The current survey will pinpoint leaks in the lines network. The next hurdle then will be finding money to fix these leaks, Dr. Knudson said. A $20,000 grant has been received from the Regional commission to help finance the survey. Meanwhile, Mayor Felt said theres really no need at the present time for Brigham City residents to conserve water. Springs are flowing well. the overflow That which is not used runs to waste. Recent meter readings have indicated a trend locally to water conservation. And that means a reduction in revenue to the city from water sales. In other business at a regular weekly city council session: The city officials, hearing no objections from the public, authorized rezoning from residential to commercial property located on the west side of First West and between First North and Forest street. Four-Corne- i by the wayside. A lack of sufficient entries is the reason. This annual competition offers a savings bond award in each of two catagories improved and unimproved lots. Selection of first-placwinners is based on the degree of improvement progress from spring until the fall. It may be that someone plans to repair and paint the exterior of their home. Or tear down an old garage and plant a garden there. Or replace an old fence. These and any other similar kinds $50 e of planned improvements picture, may irrigate to get crops to germinate. The Bear River Canal company worked with farmers to put Vita entries strikes contest 14 Pages II TWENTY CENTS water in the west canal last Thursday and in the central canal this week ahead of water contract schedules. wtoi'u' Theres water flowing into western Bear River valley. Farmers in the communities of Bothwell, Thatcher and Penrose are busily irrigating their parched farm ground after the Bear River Canal company turned in water two weeks early, starting at midnight Wednesday. Contracts by water users call for a May 1 starting date annually, but the severe drouth conditions in the western reaches of the valley have left farmers with a need to irrigate even before they can plant crops. Paul Holmgren, president of the Utah Sugar Beet Growers association, said farmers are glad to get the water. There has been a severe problem, he said, since these communities have not had the moisture from the few storms this winter that have benefited the farmers near the Wasatch mountains to the east. Weve had two to three times more rain than Penrose, Bothwell or Thatcher. Theyre terribly dry. In a situation like that, they cant start their crops until they get rain or irrigate. Farmers there have their backs to the wall, Holmgren of Bear River City, said Friday. Ken Mitchell, manager of the Bear River Canal company, said Friday that just over 5,000 acres were signed up for the water on the west canal in the Bothwell-Thatcher-Penro- area. Water was expected to be turned into the central canal (Tremonton Third ward area) Monday. Farmers paid a one time $1.50 acre fee for the earlier water which was to offset the extra personnel and maintenance needed to begin operation of the canals earlier than May 1. Mitchell said the company did not turn water into the system until May 15 last year due to a wetter spring. He said this years early start caught them four days short of having maintenance corn- - their first inspection of entered properties on Friday. If there is a contest. This competition is intended to recognize and reward improvements to the local environment. Certainly we want to encourage everyone who plans to improve their home and yard or vacant lot to participate, a spokesman for the sponsoring Kiwanis club stated BE Republicans set convention The Republican party of Box Elder county will hold its organization meeting on Wednesday, April 20, in Brigham City, Chairman R. Douglas Parsons reminded this week. The session is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Box Elder High school auditorium. Expected to attend are ail delegates to the 1976 county nominating convention, the chairman said. Purpose of the confab is to elect new officers to guide the party for the next two years. Three state committee members from Box Elder county also will be elected. Keynote speaker will be Utah Lt. Gov. David S. Monson. Parsons has announced that he does not plan to seek another term as the county chairman. He cited the press of business and a need to spend more time with his family as reasons. Two other officers have followed suit, declaring they will not be candidates for board accepts bid for school play field Salt Lake City contractor has subto develop a mitted the low bid $68,326 new athletic field north of Box Elder High A school. The proposal of Ivan B. Woodbury was accepted by the Box Elder Board and Education Wednesday night. Architect and engineering fees plus other related costs will add about $8,000 to the project amount. The total cost will fall about $21,000 short of a $97,308 grant awarded by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in late December. As a result, board members not only officially accepted the low bid but looked to ways in which the unencumbered funds could be spent. Edwards and Daniels, architecture firm, was authorized to contact HEW on possibly using the surplus funds for bleachers or lights. And to explore costs with suppliers and contractors. Board member Wesley Scott dissented on the motion. He told his fellow officials, Id feel much better if we just take this bid and not go on." We say we dont want government control but here we are asking for more, he stated. There were four bidders for the project with Parson Asphalt Products, Ogden, second low at $72,311. It was announced previously that sod would be hauled in but the bid awarded Wednesday calls for grass to be grown from seed. To sod the site would push the cost well beyond the grant amount. Woodbury in an alternate bid, set the additional cost for sod at $65,040. The property is located north of the high school. It is parallel to Sixth West on the west side and is bounded by Watkins park and Second South. Work will include installation of an automatic sprinkling system, two soccer goals, three softball backstops and a baseball backstop. Also included is a sidewalk, curb and gutter and blacktop to the existing surfaced roadway on Sixth West. And grass between the sidewalk and curb. As proposed in the funding application, 7.5-ac- We had quite a few problems with weeds, he said, noting that some shortcuts were necessary to put the water in earlier. Weve been working as hard as we could. But havent been able to put on a large crew due to limited funds. he added. Mitchell said farmers are now paying assessments written into their original contracts after a district court ruling last year said the company is to provide water at those prices. He said there is sufficient water at Cutler dam to meet irrigation needs in the Bear River valley this year, but there could be problems of some taking the water belonging to others. Holmgren said less than a third of 1,550 acres of sugar beets contracted the Box Elder County last year will be planted this (Continued on Page 7) locally would constitute good reason to enter the contest. An entry form can be found in today's News. Deadline for receiving entries at the Box Elder News and Journal office is Thursday, April 21. Judges are scheduled to make Money left for bleachers or lights? BE pleted. the field is for "all types of high school and community recreation and sports activities, such as football, baseball, softball, school in 1977-7- 8 and named a third as an alternate. soccer, track and general recreation." The grant was awarded under the Comprehensive Public Works Employment Act Approved for leave were Robert H. Wendel who plans to seek an advanced degree, and Reggie Petersen who wants to work toward an education specialist de- spring. The contractor said he would start on the project before a May 2 target date set by the board. gree. and be asEach will receive half-pasured of a position upon return to the district. District policy is that two such leaves can be granted each year. Gary W. Dixon, a third applicant, was named as an alternate. of 1976. Woodbury told the board that grass will be up and growing by next fall but he wouldnt advise playing on it until next In still other business Wednesday, the board approved one-yea- r sabbatical leaves for two teachers at Box Elder High y Dr. Haws said the district advisory council recommended that Wendel and Petersen be selected. reelection. They are Mrs. Kay Petersen, Brigham City, vice chairman, and Mrs. Beth Foxley, Tremonton, secretary. The other leader now serving is Glen R. Curtis, Tremonton, party treasurer. Its been a most enjoyable two years and beneficial experience. Anyone who would like to run for a party office is invited to contact me and I will help them where possible, Parsons said. Its expected that Richard Richards, state GOP chairman, and Mrs. Zenda Hall, state vice chairman, will attend. County Demos will moot, plan confab A meeting of the Box Elder County Democratic party Is scheduled In Brigham City on Wednesday, April 20, according to Chairman Alma Alex. The session will begin at 7 p.m. in the conference room (downstairs) in the county courthouse. Purpose of the meeting Is to make plans for the upcoming county organization convention, Mrs. Alex said. Expected to attend are central committee members and all other interested Democrats. |