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Show WASATCH August 31, 1999 COUNTY COURIER eelUl a: aPnnelNe County Needs to CUP: Hold Public Hearing on CUP Water money back Last February the- . County Commissioners promised Wasatch County’s entire allotment of Central Utah Project drinking water to the Jordanelle Special Service District. The county promised 4,000 acre-feet or enough water for roughly all Wasatch the We all pay a tax to the Central Utah cient water. Depending on where you were unlucky enough to buy your prop- all for the residents of Heber City, who get their water from City owned wells, not from CUP, but that’s another story. Today’s story is that CUP didn’t obey the law, and the law seems to say they 4,000 for the Jordanelle current County who residents don’t of needs? Many resident in the valley, such as those in Timberlakes, Twin Creeks, homes on five have only enough use. We have large acres with Project (CUP), which makes no sense at erty (how well connected your developer was) you got 1,600, 800, 400 or only 300 gallons per day. 1999, and construction on the replacement pipeline is still not even on the schedule. The law was enacted in 1992. CUP had only two years to start these projects or they had to stop taxing us and return to us any CUP taxes collected. CUP may owe Wasatch Co. a big bunch of money. Public Law (P.L.) 102-575 devotes more Now I want to point out that Sec. 206 of PL. 102-575 is the most confusing law I’ve ever seen. I makes the IRS Code read like child’s play. The ‘start in two years or pay up’ rule seems pret- CUP giveaway letter was never voted than 50 pages to CUP. Sec. 206 says that any county (except Utah Co. or ty clear, but it might not be a sufficient condition- for getting the money back. on (read: signed in secret) and thus is invalid. Salt Lake Co.) where CUP did not start construction on the projects specified in There might be another condition, but I P.L. 102-575 within two years of the passage of the law can make CUP return all the tax money collected by CUP from that County. clear if there were any water project consequences to a County taking back their CUP tax: money. Sorting this out will take some lawyering, but that’s why the County has a County Attorney. Put him on the job. have to give us all our CUP We feel the county has the moral obligation to correct the problems it caused by first offering the CUP water to current residents who need it. The ‘The county has indicated that at some point in the near future it might “ratify” the letter, thus making it legal. We believe the county commissioners PL. 102-575 lists at least three CUP projects for Wasatch Co.: (1) the Daniels Diversion Project, (2) replacing should give the public a chance to express how they feel. Put in on the barely agenda, as a real item and not one of the hidden stealth items such as “water matters.” Allow for public input, then vote on it. BUT ASK FOR COMMENT AND DO IT IN PUBLIC. the Timpanogos and Wasatch Canals with a pipeline, and (3) the Provo River Restoration Project. No construction started on any of these projects until | couldn’t figure that out. P.L. eral 575 for It also wasn’t 102-575 requires CUP to build sevprojects in Wasatch Co. P.L. 102gives CUP a lot of federal money those projects. PL. 102-575 does CUP continued on page 5 ul. enough water for indoor sanitary and culinary needs, let alone enough to do any outdoor watering, much less taxes back since they violated the law. have enough water for their daily household and Interlaken water for inside the people of Wasatch The county caused these problems by approving developments without suffi- area and this water will support that future growth. Fair enough. But what about Here’s 2 enough for five acres. The county’s rationalization for the giveaway is that a large number of are slated Opinion by Keith Baker, Guest aeravict Co. ought to get their elected officials working on. homes to a district with only three residents. homes Give us our school taxes? What would you like mom alerts about in a @lireaceyel Linda Young Tom Tara Wall Burke “T feel OK about it. “I’m for that.” “T wouldn’t mind as long as the quality of to be important.” + Construction Rrerence Taledays ae. - «Commercial loans = Sa Be iececco era 654-2661 Kid’s education needs education also increased.” - fejanaats Week”? | | : a = “a a. a _* Serving Wasatch County since 1989 ¢ Fast, friendly service - o 2 _ LM | | Inc | Construction Loans & Mortgage 260. North Main, Heber City 800-326-3209 * 435-654-3210 : Kelly Cummings, Pam Cummings, : _ |