PRWID Board Forwards Subdivision Plans for Carbon County’s Approval,

By Sun Advocate

The Price River Water Improvement District board gave tentative approval to two new subdivisions in the county Tuesday.
On May 2, Kevin Asay appeared before the board with maps and plans to extend the Olive Grove subdivision by five additional units.
Olive Grove is south and west of Price in the 1100 South and 600 West area.
PRWID officials told the board that the new units could be easily accommodated by existing infrastructure and fire-flow pressure in the area is very good.
After a brief discussion, the board approved the additional units in the subdivision.
Approaching the PRWID board, Renee Banasky petitioned the members for approval of a seven-unit subdivision in the 3000 South 800 East area near Circle K.
PRWID officials told board members that the culinary water line in the area would need to be extended by about 600 feet, and all units would require septic tanks since no sewer line is available in the area.
It was also pointed out that a new hydrant would need to be installed to meet fire codes.
The board reviewed maps and plans of the project and gave tentative approval for the project, contingent on the developer assuming all costs to extend the water line and install the fire hydrant.
Assistant PRWID manager Jeff Richens explained that the board’s approval is a first step in acquiring permission from Carbon County to do a subdivision development.
“We give the county a letter saying that the project can meet our requirements,” said Richens. “The county planning and zoning people and the county commission make the final decisions.”
The two petitioners will now take the development projects to the county for final approval.
PRWID manager Phil Palmer gave a report on the finalizing of the winter water livestock-watering project.
Palmer told board members that a final inspection of the project had recently taken place with officials from the Carbon Canal Company and the state water board. He said the only thing left in the project was some very minor clean up items and a few attachments to deeds of right of ways that are being prepared by attorneys of the canal company.
Richens gave a presentation on the snow pack in the district’s watershed. He presented a graph that showed the year-to-date precipitation in the area to be about 117 percent of normal. However, the snow water equivalent numbers are only at about 86 percent of normal.
Richens said that warm rains this spring have melted off a good deal of the snow pack on White River drainage early this year, and he expects the snow pack in that area to be gone by the first of June.
Richens also told board members that PRWID is having a difficult time hiring summer help this year for the first time ever. “We advertise every year,” he said, “and sometimes we get 50 applications. So far this year, we’ve received only one application.”
Palmer reported that an inspection with Federal, state and local officials will be made on May 11 at the old Willow Creek mine site. The water district has purchased the northern extension of the old mine property along the Price River. Palmer said the inspection will be made of the reclimation work done by Plateau mining. Plateau is requesting the release of bonds held until the work is completed.
Palmer said that when the government accepts the reclamation projects as completed, and releases the bonds, the district can begin remodeling work on the old Plateau warehouse.
It was also reported that the Utah Dept. of Transportation is letting bids on a highway project in Helper. The water district and Helper city will be heavily involved since some water lines will need to be relocated and other infrastructure put in place as the project unfolds.
Palmer also reported that he is in the process of securing funding for a comprehensive hydrology study of the whole PRWID system. The need for the study was discussed and approved at an earlier meeting.
In a final item of business, Board member Karl Houskeeper reported on the on-going service agreement between Wellington City and the water district. He said that the Wellington City attorney is reviewing the preliminary agreement and will soon make a recommendation to the city council.
However, since the water season is upon us, Houskeeper asked that the PRWID board approve allowing Wellington to work with the district under the terms of the draft agreement for the summer water season, even though the agreement has not been finalized and signed by both parties.
The board discussed the proposal at length, and then gave approval. Wellington will provide a formal letter of intent to PRWID, and PRWID staff will be directed to honor the draft agreement. This arrangement will be in effect until a final resolution of the service agreement.