Water projects move forward in this "dry" town

Bonds allow for much-needed sewer upgrades

The February 13th City Council meeting mainly focused on needed infrastructure improvements and a couple potential developments. First on the agenda was a public hearing for $3.5 million in bonds to pay for the major sewer system upgrade project. An increase in sewer user rates has already been approved to pay for these bonds, so most comments focused on the details of the project. According to Public Works Director Bryan Meadows, “everything on the sewer project is overdue”, and part of “everything” includes improving the elevation of the water treatment ponds to lessen the occasional smell. 

Later in the meeting Carlos Reyes came to the Council asking if the City would extend water and sewer lines south from Pirate Avenue to property he owns on the west side of town. The Council reiterated that in this mostly undeveloped neighborhood, the first person to develop would pay to extend both lines to their land. Then, anyone else who connected to those new lines in the next five years would pay back that first person a share of the total cost. The main catch here is that the first person would have to front the total cost, and the reimbursement requirement expires after five years. With the major sewer project looming, the Council declined to help pay for new lines, but voted to extend the required reimbursement period to ten years.

While the City water supply was still on their minds, the Council heard out a water salesman and his clients who wanted to buy 80,000 gallons per month of the City’s potable water to transport by truck to a potential new truck stop in Crescent Junction. The salesman and his clients weren't confident that Thompson Springs would have any reliable extra water to sell. Thompson Springs’ water board chair is hoping to either build a new reservoir in a wash or take over the UMTRA project’s water pipeline from the Green River. The Council considered the request, asking Meadows about the City’s water treatment capacity, but ultimately denied the sale. They thought that committing to sell that much water to an out-of-town and out-of-county business would limit the water available for future City businesses, such as new local truck stops or industries. The Council then considered the economic impact of a new truck stop in Crescent Junction.

Back to existing infrastructure: the Council voted to partner with the GR Canal Company on the PL 566 project to address stormwater draining into the canal and flooding nearby areas. The Canal Company can’t afford to pipe the whole canal but with the City’s support it will create detention basins throughout town that should lessen or eliminate the worst of the flooding.

The Council also unanimously approved giving local consent for Shady Acres to establish a liquor store, one of many steps in the process to open a new liquor store in town. As many know, since West Winds’ liquor store closed last November the closest places to buy bottles of wine, spirits, or strong beers are in Price and Moab.