Castle Valley Special Service District meeting

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The Castle Valley Special Service District meeting held on March 20 was opened by Brad Giles and then turned over to Darrel Leamaster for an update. He spoke about several subjects in the works such as the planned crack filling and seal of roads project, the curb and gutter South project, and Molen Road. Also the power company wants to move a power line on the Dave Owen property.
Ferron
Craig Johansen reported that the design of the new Ferron sewer line project has fatal flaws. The location of the line at some point gets too close to ground level or comes out of the ground. Several options were discussed. Further study will take place before this project is approved.
Huntington
Huntington City will be getting 25 new fire hydrants, these are not replacement hydrants. The few non-working hydrants in Huntington will be replaced by the special service district.
Culinary water, secondary water and sewer connections
The cities of Ferron and Huntington have received requests for water and sewer connections outside of the city limits. One of those connections is at least three miles from the city boundaries. Because of the recently passed county ordinance by the county commissioners, which makes it possible for a land owner to subdivide 10 acres of land into two acre lots, more people are coming forward with requests for connections to the city water, sewer and secondary lines.
The special service district members and the cities of Emery County have adopted an amendment to the Interlocal Governmental Agreement Under Article II Culinary and Secondary Water and Article III Sewer.
The Amendment reads as follows:
“4. New Connections Outside District/City Boundaries: No new culinary water connections should be granted outside of the district and city boundaries. Properties outside of the district and city should be annexed into the city prior to any such connections being granted.” Similar language is used for secondary water and sewer connections.
Leamaster feels the change made by the county from 10 acres to two acre lots will create a problem for the Castle Valley Special Service District and the cities in Emery County. In the opinion of the city mayors this change makes them look bad. Because they have to deny water and sewer hookups to homes that are outside the city limits. The special service district board includes the mayors of Emery County cities.
Emery County cities have a problem because in the past some cities have allowed non city taxpayers to make connections to city water and sewer lines without additional fees being charged. These water and sewer lines were paid for by the city taxpayers over the years through city taxes and the mayors of the cities feel it is unfair for non city taxpayers to have the advantage of city services and not pay the taxes for them.
Some of the connections wanted are as much as three miles or more away from the city boundaries. Under the newly adopted Castle Valley Special Service District Amendment to the interlocal governmental agreement between the cities and the special service district, for a city to allow a connection outside the city boundaries, the city should annex all of the land owned by the several land owners between the city boundaries and the one person wanting a water and sewer connection. The land owners would have to agree to be annexed into the city and pay city taxes.
The special service district also has a problem servicing any water and sewer connections outside the city boundaries. If the city annexes the property that is three miles away from the city, then the special service district becomes responsible for the road, the culinary water, secondary water and sewer lines, and any other infrastructure covering that three miles from the city to the property being annexed to the city.
Because the language in the amendment states the city should annex the property and not will annex the property, the special service district and the city council is still responsible to decide if it is in their best interest to allow a connection outside city boundaries.
Leamaster said, “The special service district will not approve new connections without the property being annexed to the city.”
It was recommended that the cities annex potential industrial zone property for the future growth of business in the county. In the future, to accommodate anticipated growth the cities and the Special service district should be looking at places to expand beyond their present boundaries.
Legislation
Recent State legislation gave local governments the responsibility to keep records. In addition local governments have 14 days to approve the minutes of meetings and post them on the governmental web site.
House Bill 51 the water forfeiture bill gives cities 40 years before water could be forfeited for non use.
Water treatment plant
The changing of the three filter membranes in the water treatment plant in Straight Canyon will cost $367,000 from US Filter by Seamons. The new three banks of filter units, when installed in the water treatment plant will be more efficient and easier to clean than the old ones.