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Show jjisday 'tttSSB3Sa lllthYear-N- April 30, 2002 i tjp ymff a a jjayipminn nynjwiyurw iriwriq!Hfy,r.reijrty nom pw-- j Price, Utah c 35 o. v i v ' ,r--, 500 4 JWv4v M.)! I Paper pubBshea Energy section m. ,t4 ?' f, r -' , Helper council approves city wafer rates, restrictions V'. By RICHARD SHAW Staff reporter rw When! Helper officials met last Thursday, the citys proposed water ordinance and fee hikes were the subject of fiery discussion in a packed, over flowing council chambers. 11 meeting. Councilman Robert Atthel Welch proposed a significant change in how the city charges for water. He recommended that the water base be lowered from 10JXX) gallons to 6JOOO gallons for the same $12 monthly fee. In addition, he proposed that the overage charge be changed from $1.89 per 1,000 gallons to $2. The changes were recommended to encourage people to conserve water. Helper sole source of water is Colton Springs. The flow from the springs is only of normal this year. The council waited for public reaction before voting on the proposal, which also included some restrictions as welL You cant compare what we pay to Price city," laid Ronald Mutz, referring to the last meeting when Welch had shown the differences in rates. They have many more people and a bigger ty-- f tem. Were just a small town and never wiube more than that People will still need to use the water. ' Mayor Joe Bonaori asked Welch to address the ' matter and attain the reasons for recommending the changes. This has not been an overnight thing," pointed out Welch, who oversees die Guys water department We have had many discussions about this one-thi- V ' . or.,, V . - V . . V'v.Vvi' V . . Ti s - 'Jj rd . - The ordinance approved by Helper officials changes not tmly ty th bass amount and overage charge rates, but bans outsida watering between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 culi-na- whole situation. We just dont have the water we used to. We are in a serious situation. Our water department has already had to start pumps that are usually not turned on until late May or the beginning ofJune. The only reason we want to lower the base rate is ' for conservation reasons, explained the council- man. But a number of the audience members . . . ques- - p.m. The guidelines specify that Individuals violatinK the ordinance will be subject to cnnunal prosecution on a dass B misdemeanor category offense. ' tinned the munrilmant wplanatinn Some JMpw residents in attendance at the council meetingsug- gested that the citywas doing it to make money. I would be interested in ways to make the city more revenue, said Mayor Joe BonaccL But this isn't one of them. Wfelch explained that the water department had looked at averages and found out most residents dont use much more than 5,000 to 6,000 gallons per month during the summer. , We actually could have proposed lowering it to 4,000 gallons, but I didnt think going that low would be a good idea. At 6,000 gallons, the limit is reasonable. If the water situation improves we can always raise it Id rather be in the position of doing that than having to ask for lower numbers, said Welch. But even with the councilman's explanation, many of the Helper residents in attendance at last weeks meeting voiced objections to the changes. If you are going to cut our water in halt we ought to cut your wages in halt too, said Bob Rojas emphatically. I just cant make sense of this. Why in the hell dont you just write up the people who are using water wrong? ' The mayor responded by pointing out the provisions of the new ordinance and the reasons for implementing the guidelines. The issue is that we just dont have the availability of potable water we need here, said Bonacd. We are possibly going to pass an ordinance here tonight that will address those issues. We didnt do it in the last council meeting because we wanted citizen input, which we are getting from you tonight We are willing to listen to solutions to this problem that any of you may have tonight The ordinance in question changes not only the base amount and overage charge rates, but also indudes a total ban mi culinary outside watering from 9 un. until 6p.m. daily, The guidelines also prohibit running culimy (Continued on page 3A) . Piccolo encourages city's citizens to conserve water ducing water usage in foe designated ways, as much as a 15 By KEN LARSON Sun Advocate publisher In a letter that will be distributed to all water users within Price citys boundaries, Mayor Joe Piccolo urges residents to conserve water. Whter has been an ongoing problem in eastern Utah. But with the lack of snow diming the winter and less spring rains than normal, city and county government officials are looking ahead at another drought season. In foe mayors message to the community, read at foe Price City Council meeting last Wednesday, Piccolo stated foe following. We are entering another irri- gation season under serious drought conditions that are mirrored in most areas of Utah as well. If we are to have an adequate supply of water in late summer we must conserve now. While nothing is mandatory asofyet, foe mayor requested that people be responsible with their water use. At this time, I would like to ask you as customers for a voluntary restraint of outdoor watering between foe hours of 10a.m. ami 6 p.m." he stated. Also I would ask you to limit your watering to no more than two days WCCKfi cent reduction could happen;'' pointed out Piccolo. If we successfully use this rule, we may not have to adopt a program for summer use, concluded the . water-rationi- ng mayor. State officials have recom-- t mended implementing several conservation measures across the state. The measures include: Checking all indoor and outdoor fixtures for leaks. Replace damaged washers in faucets, tubs and showers. Operate dish and clothes washer to foil capacity. Avoid operating the appli- - 'a ances to dean small loads of dothing and dishes. Sweep driveways and sidewalks with brooms rather dim hosing down with water to dean. Water lawns and landscapes . : only when needed. Overwatenng remits in shallow root systems, which hinders the survival of grass and plants when restric-- . tions are enacted. Set sprinklers so the water hits grass and plants, not cement or barren ground. Avoid watering on windy days. Additional information is available by contacting foe division of water resources at 801- -: 538-72or logging on the web at www.can8erewater.utah.gov. 54 Experts indicate that, by re Local fifth grade students observe-Arbo- Day, roll up r udentsfromtfiePinnaclePBakAcadeniyfifthcradedassescelebratBMnr sleeves to plant trees theevent MailiiiezaiidstiKteiilteactwrDeiFiinkhelpedthefifttigradersplan tail the students did almost afl the work. Price citys shade tree commission was instrumental in assisting with the program. The commission was set up to educate local citizens in tree planting and care, including presenting grams forschoots in the area. The commission also assists residents in resolving problems associated with trees. Day last week. The fifth graders produced a pity about the founder of Mor Day, 1 Sterling Morion. They also conducted a flag ceremony and presented a poeby reading, concluding the activities by planting a tree in front of the IjrleBauerfrom Price city taughtthe students abouttrees and howto plant them. Price was recently recognized as a Tree City, USA. Teacher Kelly Price council conducts public hearing on city community block grant applications . By KEN LARSON Sun Advocate publisher to be put on must be owned by the city. Ina letter dated March 16, foe city was awarded more than $27,000 for the Nelson project and $12JXX) for the city hall entry door retrofit Wednesdays meeting was part of the final application process. Only improvements that would directly benefit low and moderate income housing and families are allowed. According to officials, it is important to understand foe type of projects that are eligible under the grant program, such as vacqinsition, improving I areas, rehabilitation or Price has submitted two applications for community development block grants ami a sec-o- nd public hearing was conducted last Wednesday at the city council meeting on die subject Originally, the projects included the construction of pedestrian safety improvements on Nelson Lane and retrofitting foe city haU with entry doors with electric openers and push path. However, the initial plans changed last week and it was announced at the meeting that foe "fete. ' - V t ? Wi : V -- 0 1 . , V, . - "v f . I. -- ; 1 - Price fire crews, police extinguish blaze In motor home Price emwgency personnel respond toaveMdefira Hon- day morning near Fausett Mortuaiy on 100 South. Price Police Officer Dave Cartwright wms the first on the scene and controlled the blaa with an extinguisher. Fee d- - ; partment crews anived at the location sfwrtly after ttw poficeman and finished axtinguisliing the blaze, leaving the unoccupied motor home with minimal damage. The cause of the fire remained under investigation. . Carbon County ity was unable to deed the prop- erty needed for the proposed project to the city. border for Price to install the pedestrian safety projects, which were to include sidewalk, curb and gutter on Nelson Lane, foe areas that the improvements are -- : tion of historical sites public works improvements, code enforcement design work, demolition, removal of architectural barriers finance assistance or community development plans. Price city has completed projects using the funding that have benefited low and moderate income persons within foe local community, including making foe citys library more assessable to everyone. The public hearing was set up to identity the selected projects, the funding that is available and to respond to specific concerns or questions from citizens within the city. Since the Nelson project could not be a consideration, foe council discussed making the doors into the College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum The improvements suggested for the museum would be a project similar to the city hall endeavor, where doors will be made more accessible. Making an addendum to the application was discussed and an announcement will be made iffoe (Continued on page 2A) |